'NUMB. 


PETER,  LUCK, 


7  5 


THE  WRONG  NUMBER 


THE  WRONG 
NUMBER 


BY 
PETER    LUCK 


BOSTON 

SMALL,  MAYNARD  &    COMPANY 
PUBLISHERS 


Printed  in  Oeat  Britain  at  the  Athenaeum  Prlntirve  Works,  Kedl.ill. 


TO 

ARTHUR    COMPTON    RICKETT 


2136796 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I      THE    WRONG    NUMBER             .  .            .  .  9 

ii    A  WOMAN'S  REASON 45 

III  THE   HUNDREDTH   CHANCE   .  .            .  .  8l 

IV  THE   MODERN   BILL   SIKES     .  .             .  .  114 
V      THE   LADY   OF  THE   TELEPHONE       .  .  145 

VI      A  TEST    OF    LOVE 174 

VII      METHOD  IN  HIS  MADNESS      .  .             .  .  2OO 

VIII      TWO  WOMEN   .  .            .  .            .  .            .  .  226 

IX      BOLT   VERSUS    BAR 252 

X      MOLLY  MAKES  GOOD  .               .  .  28l 


THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

CHAPTER  I 

THE   WRONG   NUMBER 

JACK  DENHAM  flung  his  half-smoked 
cigarette  into  the  empty  grate  and  his 
book  on  to  the  floor,  and  got  up  from 
his  chair.  He  crossed  to  the  window  and 
looked  out.  He  considered  that  Lennox 
Street,  in  which  his  rooms  were  situated,  looked 
particularly  tame  that  evening  ;  there  was  an 
atmosphere  of  dull  stagnation  about  everything. 
And  he  wanted  movement,  excitement,  some- 
thing doing.  The  book  he  had  been  reading 
was  brim  full  of  amazing  incidents,  but  it  left 
him  cold  and  unimpressed. 

"  Tosh  !  "  he  thought.  "  Nothing  exciting 
like  that  ever  happens  in  real  life.  I  wish  it 
did.  I'd  give  half  this  blinking  fortune  I've 
come  into  in  exchange  for  a  real  adventure." 
And  so  he  would.  He  had  groused  away 
to  his  friends,  that  being  far  too  young  he 
had  just  missed  the  war,  which  was  his  infernal 
luck,  and  when  that  was  over  what  was  there 
for  a  man  to  do  ?  What  should  he  do  now  ? 


io  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

Ring  up  one  of  the  girls  and  take  her  to  a 
play  he  supposed,  and  he  had  seen  all  the 
plays  that  were  then  running  in  London.  No, 
too  dull.  Well,  anyway  he  would  have  to 
dine  somewhere,  and  dress,  and  bore  himself 
stiff.  He  looked  at  his  watch  and  saw  that 
it  was  twenty  minutes  to  eight. 

It  was  at  that  moment  that  the  telephone 
bell  rang. 

He  crossed  over  to  his  desk  and  took  up 
the  receiver. 

"  Is  that  you,  Jack  ?  "  came  a  feminine 
voice  from  the  other  end. 

He  grinned. 

"  Yes,  it's  me,"  he  said,  ungrammatically. 
Well,  his  name  was  Jack,  so  what  did  it 
matter  ? 

"  For  God's  sake  come  !  "  said  the  voice, 
unknown  to  him,  and  tremulous  with  fear. 
"  My  husband  has  broken  out  again,  and 
swears  he  will  kill  me,  for  God's  sake  come  !  " 

"  Good  Lord  !  "  said  Jack.  "  Kill  you  ! 
Why,  who  are ?  " 

The  voice  cut  in  on  his  words.  "  He  is 
in  the  hall,  waiting,  I  can't  get  out,  the  garden 
door  is  open,  come  that  way,  to  the  dining- 
room  window.  Oh  !  say  you'll  come,  say  it, 
quick — quick  !  " 

The  tone  was  that  of  agony.  Jack  Denham 
felt  a  tingling  of  horror  in  his  veins. 

"  Where  ?  "  he  said  quickly,  and  then  added  : 
"I've  forgotten  the  address." 

"  Oh  !  you  know,  Staveley  Road,  eighteen. 


THE  WRONG  NUMBER  n 

Come  now,  I  shall  die  of  terror.  The  servants 
are  out.  Oh  !  My  God !  Jack,  say  you'll 
come  ..." 

"  Of  course  I  will,"  he  said.  "  This  minute. 
I'm  starting  now." 

He  rang  off  and  then  stood  staring  at  the 
instrument  vacantly.  What  on  earth  did  it 
mean  ?  A  woman  in  fear  of  being  murdered 
by  her  husband,  and  calling  to  him  !  Who 
was  she  ?  He  did  not  know  Staveley  Road 
— had  never  heard  of  it.  But  whoever  she 
was  or  whatever  it  might  mean,  in  his  code 
of  life  there  was  only  one  thing  for  him  to  do. 
A  woman  was  crying  for  help  in  her  hour  of 
need,  and  he  was  a  man,  therefore  he  must 
go  to  her.  Of  course  he  could  ring  up  the 
police,  but  that  did  not  seem  the  right  thing 
somehow ;  she  could  have  done  that,  and 
had  not  ;  she  had  called  to  a  man  she  knew 
instead.  Therefore  she  had  a  reason.  Of 
course  the  explanation  of  the  seeming  mystery 
was  simple  enough.  Exchange  had  put  her 
on  to  the  wrong  number.  She  in  her  terror 
had  not  noticed  the  strange  voice  ;  that  he 
had  answered  to  the  name  of  Jack  was  enough 
for  her,  and  that  she,  a  helpless  woman  had 
called  to  Jack  was  enough  for  him.  Here  at 
last  was  what  he  had  craved,  an  adventure. 
He  picked  up  his  hat  and  hurried  downstairs. 
He  looked  up  and  down  the  street,  not  a  taxi 
visible.  He  ran  into  Oxford  Street  at  last, 
commenting  angrily  on  the  scarcity  of  taxis. 
A  slight  drizzle  and  the  hour  however  accounted 


12  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

for  it.    At   last   a   few   yards   further   on   he 
saw  and  hailed  an  empty  car. 

"  Where  is  Staveley  Road  ?  '  he  asked 
the  man. 

"  Somewhere  out  St.  John's  Wood  way, 
sir,"  was  the  reply. 

"  I  want  to  get  there,"  he  said.     "  Drive 
as  fast  as  you  know  how." 
'  What   number,   sir  ?  " 

"  Never  mind  the  number,"  he  replied,  and 
got  in. 

He  reflected  that  it  would  be  wiser  perhaps 
to  get  out  when  he  reached  Staveley  Road, 
and  find  the  number  himself. 

The  man  drove  with  the  utmost  speed  the 
crowded  streets  permitted,  and  Jack  seated 
inside,  fuming  at  the  delays.  What  on  earth 
was  he  going  into,  and  what  did  it  mean  ? 
He  pondered  over  the  message — "  Broken  out  " 
— that  implied  drink,  he  supposed.  He  pictured 
the  brute  sitting  in  the  hall,  and  the  terror- 
stricken  woman  cowering  in  her  drawing-room 
waiting  for  a  sound,  a  movement,  and  he 
shuddered. 

At  length  the  traffic  grew  less  congested 
and  they  tore  on.  Black  clouds  overhead 
made  the  streets  unusually  dark.  Once  more 
he  glanced  at  his  watch.  It  was  eight  o'clock, 
and  he  put  his  head  out. 

"  Are  we  anywhere  near  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Just  turning  into  Staveley  Road  now, 
sir,"  said  the  man. 

"  All  right,  pull  up."    He  got  out  and  put 


THE  WRONG  NUMBER  13 

a  ten  shilling  note  into  the  man's  hand.  "  Keep 
the  change,"  he  said,  "  you've  earned  it." 

"  Much  obliged,  sir,"  said  the  driver,  and 
moved  off  down  the  road. 

Jack  Denham  looked  at  the  house  where  he 
was  standing.  It  was  No.  80,  and  was 
detached  and  standing  in  a  garden,  then  came 
a  row  of  houses.  He  walked  quickly  on.  At 
No.  30,  the  row  ceased,  and  the  houses  became 
once  more  detached.  These,  he  noticed,  were 
of  good  size,  each  with  its  own  large  garden. 
He  reached  No.  18  at  last,  and  found  that  it 
boasted  three  doors — a  front  entrance,  a  back, 
and  a  garden  gate,  which  stood  unlatched. 
He  pushed  it  open  and  walked  down  the 
path  that  led  round  the  side  of  the  house, 
which  was  in  complete  darkness.  Pre- 
sently he  found  himself  treading  on  grass, 
then  he  paused  and  listened.  There  was 
not  a  sound  save  the  far  distant  rumble  of 
traffic. 

He  moved  on  and  stumbled  against  a  step. 
There  were  three  steps,  up  which  he  went, 
and  found  himself  standing  on  a  stone  terrace. 
Close  in  front  of  him  was  a  french  window, 
partly  open.  Then  he  heard  a  man's  voice 
inside 

"  What  was  that  ?  ' 

It  was  a  harsh  voice,  an  unpleasant  voice. 
He  pushed  open  the  window,  felt  some  heavy 
curtains  impeding  his  progress,  and  pushing 
them  aside  stepped  into  the  room.  A  blinding 
glare  of  electric  light  dazzled  him,  and  for 


14  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

the  moment  he  saw  nothing.  Then  once  more 
came  the  voice,  harsh,  insistent 

"  Draw  the  curtains,  you  blithering  fool, 
draw  them  quick." 

He  stopped,  staring  blankly  at  the  scene 
before  him.  It  was  a  large  room  in  the  centre 
of  which  was  a  table,  and  round  this  were 
gathered  six  men  and  two  women  all  in  evening 
dress,  and  every  face  was  turned  towards  him. 
Then  with  a  quick  movement  the  man  who 
had  spoken  sprang  towards  him,  closed  the 
window  and  drew  the  curtains. 

Jack  took  in  the  scene  at  once.  Evidently 
this  was  a  gambling  place,  for  they  were  playing 
baccarat,  and  evidently  also,  he  had  come 
to  the  wrong  house.  What  he  had  taken  for 
eighteen,  must  in  reality  have  been  eighty. 
Then  the  man  beside  him,  a  tall,  strongly 
built  fellow  with  clean  shaven  face,  large 
heavy  features  and  cold  grey  eyes,  spoke 
to  him. 

"  The  password,"  he  said,  shortly. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  said  Jack.  "I'm 
afraid  I  have  made  a  mistake." 

"I'm  afraid  you  have,"  was  the  reply, 
followed  by  a  short  laugh,  an  ugly  laugh, 
seemingly  full  of  menace. 

There  was  a  stir  among  the  people  seated 
round  the  table,  chairs  were  pushed  back. 
A  middle-aged  man  with  pointed  beard  and 
the  look  of  a  foreigner,  detached  himself  from 
the  others  and  came  towards  him. 

"  You  have  the  password,  hein  ?  "  he  asked, 


THE  WRONG  NUMBER  15 

abruptly.     "  The   password,  my   friend,   is   it 
not  so  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  what  you  mean,"  said  Jack, 
drawing  back  involuntarily. 

There  was  a  murmur  from  the  others.  A 
slight,  pretty  woman  in  the  scantiest  of  garments 
and  blazing  with  imitation  j  ewellery  called  out : 

"  He  is  not  one  of  us,  Cast  on.  Is  the 
window  shut  ?  " 

With  a  quick  movement  the  man  who  had 
first  spoken  drew  a  wooden  shutter  over  the 
window  and  rammed  down  the  bar  across  it 
Then  he  turned  to  the  young  man,  who  now 
realised  fully  what  he  was  up  against,  and, 
as  was  his  way,  with  the  advent  of  danger 
came  complete  composure. 

"  You  have  no  password,"  said  the  man, 
"  and  yet  you  are  here.  How  did  you  come  ?  " 

'  Through  the  window,"  said  Jack. 

Someone  tittered. 

"  An  unusual  proceeding  for  me,  I  admit," 

he  went  on,  with  a  smile.     "  As  a  rule  I  use 

the  door,  but  on  this  occasion  I  had  a  reason." 

'  You  are  from  Scotland  Yard,  I  suppose," 

said  the  tall  man  with  a  frown. 

"God  forbid,"  was  the  reply.  "But  let 
me  explain,  it  is  imperative  that  I  get  out 
of  here  at  once." 

'  You  realise  where  you  are,  I  suppose,  and 
that  this  is  a  gambling  den  ?  "  said  the  man. 

"  Not   really,   is   it  ?  "   retorted   the    other. 
'Why,  I  thought  it  was  a  Mothers'  Meeting." 

Again  there  was  a  titter  from  one  of  the 


16  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

women  by  the  table,  and  the  foreigner,  Gaston, 
frowned. 

'  This  is  no  matter  for  joke,"  he  said,  angrily. 
"  So  it  seems,"  said  Jack  airily.  "  Since 
you  appear  to  be  in  dread  of  the  police,  it 
strikes  me  that  it  might  possibly  be  quite 
serious.  But  I  can  assure  you  that  I  am 
not  connected  with  the  Force  in  any  way. 
Now,  I  ask  you,"  he  went  on,  turning  to  the 
rest  of  the  company,  "  do  I  look  like  it  ?  " 

Once  more  someone  laughed,  and  the  pretty 
woman  came  nearer. 

'  Who  are  you  ?  "  she  asked. 
He  bowed.  "  Madam,"  he  said  in  mock 
politeness,  "is  it  not  better  that  we  both 
remain  incognito  ?  '  Then  he  turned  to  the 
big  man.  '  Would  you  be  so  kind  as  to  unbar 
that  shutter,  and  allow  me  to  retrace  my  steps 
the  way  I  came.  Rather  a  lot  depends  on  my 
going  at  once." 

"  I  should  imagine  so,"  was  the  curt  reply. 
'  But  not  yet,  my  friend.  There  are  certain 
things  to  be  gone  into  before  we  part."  He 
waved  his  hand  towards  the  table,  and  a 
young  man  went  to  the  door  at  the  further 
end  of  the  room  and  locked  it,  putting  the 
key  in  his  pocket. 

'  This  begins  to  look  distinctly  interesting," 
said  Jack.     "  May  I  smoke  ?  ' 

"  My  !     You've  got  a  nerve,"  said  the  pretty 
woman. 

Jack   offered   her   his    cigarette    case;    she 
took  one. 


THE  WRONG  NUMBER  17 

"  Anyone  boast  a  match  ?  '  he  asked, 
looking  round. 

The  young  man  who  had  locked  the  door, 
laughed,  and  threw  a  box  over  to  him,  which 
he  caught. 

'  Thanks  awfully  ;  matches  are  the  bane  of 
my  existence.  I  never  can  find  one  when  I 
want  it." 

"  Now,"  said  the  big  man,  who  had  been 
waiting  impatiently  through  this  conversation, 
"  supposing  we  cut  this  foolery  and  get  to 
business  ?  ' 

"  Go  ahead,"  said  Jack.  "I'm  listening 
intently." 

"  Before  you  go,"  went  on  the  other,  "you 
will,  of  course,  give  your  assurance  that  you 
forget  where  you  have  been,  what  you  have 
seen,  and  other  details  such  as  the  name  of 
the  street,  the  number  of  this  house  ?  ' 

Jack  Denham  did  not  reply.  He  stood 
there,  thinking  hard,  and  they  were  not  pleasant 
thoughts.  In  the  first  place,  why  should  these 
people  be  so  desperately  anxious  for  him  to 
hold  his  tongue  ?  This  was  certainly  a  gambling 
hell,  but  to  his  knowledge  and  experience,  a 
good  deal  of  gambling  went  on  in  London. 
Was  this  something  more  ?  Undoubtedly  it 
was,  and  that  being  so,  he  was  in  a  pretty 
tight  corner.  He  glanced  round  at  the 
occupants  of  the  room.  There  were  six  men 
and  two  women.  Of  the  latter  one  was  young, 
amazingly  pretty,  a  very  effective  decoy  no 
doubt  ;  the  other,  middle-aged,  homely, 


i8  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

eminently  useful  as  a  respectable  caretaker 
in  the  event  of  a  sudden  evacuation  of  the 
premises.  His  quick  eyes  sought  the  faces 
of  the  four  men  standing  round  the  table. 
The  two  beside  him  he  had  already  docketed 
in  his  mind  as  the  leader  and  second  in  command. 
For  the  rest,  the  young  man  who  had  thrown 
him  the  match-box  looked  a  gentleman,  but 
what  of  that  ?  The  present  day  criminal  was 
no  longer  of  the  Bill  Sikes  type,  this  young 
man  looked  what  he  aped,  a  gentleman,  or 
perhaps  he  was  one,  more's  the  pity.  He 
would  know  him  again  anywhere.  Beside  him 
stood  a  tall  man  with  drooping  moustache  ; 
there  was  something  peculiarly  low  and  evil 
about  him,  about  the  furtive  look  of  the  eyes, 
the  nervous  twitching  of  the  fingers  as  he  took 
up  and  dropped  a  card,  then  another.  And 
on  the  other  side  two  more,  one  of  medium 
height,  thin  with  a  sallow  complexion,  clean 
shaven  and  a  mouth  twisted  on  one  side, 
either  a  physical  defect,  or  the  result  of  a  cut  ; 
this  last  more  typical  of  his  idea  as  to  what 
a  clever  crook  should  look  like.  Small,  wiry, 
cat-like  in  his  movements.  He  had  seen  him 
cross  the  room  to  the  sideboard  and  pour  out 
a  drink  for  himself.  He  had  the  face  of  a 
weasel  with  little  cunning  eyes,  and  could  see 
as  though  in  a  vision  those  long  sinewy  fingers 
manipulating  deftly  and  effectively  the  tools 
of  his  trade.  Was  this  a  gang  of  crooks 
unknown  to  the  police  ?  Was  this  the  solution 
to  that  hitherto  unsolved  problem  of  the 


THE   WRONG  NUMBER  19 

many  clever  robberies  that  had  taken  place 
recently  in  London  and  in  country  houses  ? 
Was  that  young  man  a  member  of  society  as 
well  as  a  member  of  this  gang,  and  he  the 
means  of  so  many  mysteriously  unlocked  doors 
and  opened  windows,  and  the  almost  impossible 
getaway  of  the  thieves  unless  with  inside  help  ? 
If  so,  whether  he  gave  his  promise  or  not, 
Jack  Denham  realised  pretty  clearly  that  his 
number  was  up,  unless  they  stuck  at  murder. 
Well,  he  had  to  chance  it.  He  was  no  fool, 
and  he  had  to  get  out  of  this  place  if  that 
woman  was  to  be  saved,  if  indeed,  even  now 
he  was  not  too  late.  He  must  give  his 
promise,  and  whether  given  under  threat  or 
otherwise,  to  him  a  word  once  given  must 
be  kept. 

"  Come,"  the  harsh  voice  of  the  leader  at 
his  side  broke  in  upon  his  thoughts.  "  Are 
you  going  to  give  your  word  to  say  nothing 
to  the  police  of  what  you  have  seen,  or  are 
you  not  ?  ' 

"  You  seem  to  be  terribly  afraid  of  the 
police,  gentlemen,"  he  retorted.  "  Why  ?  " 

"  What  '  fools  question  '  !  "  ejaculated  the 
Frenchman.  "  Can  you  not  see  ?  V  la."  He 
pointed  to  the  table. 

"  Oh  !  of  course,  yes,"  replied  Jack  care- 
lessly, "  I  see.  Well,  if  it  will  ease  your  minds, 
I  most  certainly  will  give  my  promise.  There's 
no  reason  that  I  know  of  why  I  should  want 
to  get  you  into  trouble,  and  there's  every 
damned  reason  in  the  world  why  I  should 


20  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

want  to  get  out  of  here."  For  it  had  occurred 
to  him  that  in  coming  here  he  must  have 
actually  passed  the  very  house  he  wanted 
to  get  to,  it  must  have  been  80,  Staveley 
Road,  not  18,  and  there  might  be  a  chance 
of  saving  her  yet. 

'  What  !  Are  you  going  to  take  his  word 
and  let  him  go  ?  '  It  was  the  little  man  with 
the  weasel  face  speaking,  and  there  was  un- 
utterable scorn  in  his  rather  high-pitched 
voice.  "  Take  his  grandmother.  Don't  you 
be  a  fool,  man  Sullivan."  He  looked  at  the 
big  man  angrily. 

"  Shut  up  on  names,  you  blinking  idiot," 
growled  the  tall  man  with  the  moustache. 

"  What  do  names  matter  ?  They  ain't  in 
the  police  registers,  are  they  ?  But  they  will 
be  if  you're  such  a  cursed  fool  as  to  let  that 
chap  go  alive  out  of  here.  You  can  take  my 
word  for  that,"  said  the  little  man  sharply. 

"  Who  is  head  of  this  show,  Alf,  you  or  I  ?  ' 
asked  Sullivan,  quietly. 

"  There  won't  be  no  show  to  talk  about  if 
you  let  that  fool  go,"  was  the  retort. 

"  C'est  vrai — 'e  ees  right,"  put  in  Gaston, 
and  then  to  Jack  :  "  You  give  your  promise, 
hein  ?  It  is  easy,  and  hey  presto  !  when 
you  are  out,  you,  what  you  say — 'phone  to 
the  police,  and  give  us  away.  We  are  not 
fools,  no,  it  is  you  who  are  the  fool." 

"  I  assure  you  I  won't,"  replied  Jack,  who, 
under  a  bold  front  was  beginning  to  feel  his 
heart  quake  within  him.  "  And  don't  be 


THE  WRONG  NUMBER  21 

rude,  my  good  fellow.  I  have  given  my  word, 
and  my  word  once  given,  I  never  go  back  on 
it.  Why  should  I  ?  I  want  to  know  nothing 
more  about  you.  I  came  in  by  mistake.  All 
I  ask  is  that  you  let  me  out  now  and  I'll  keep 
my  mouth  shut.  If  you  refuse,  it  will  show 
you  have  something  to  be  afraid  of.  You 
can  take  it  from  me  I've  been  in  a  gambling 
den  before  now,  and  thoroughly  enjoyed  it. 
I'm  not  the  man  to  give  you  away." 

The  pretty  woman  leant  forward  across 
the  table. 

"  I  think  you  can  trust  him,  old  man," 
she  said.  "  Let  him  go." 

"  You  shut  up,"  growled  Sullivan,  and  then 
walked  across  to  the  table  leaving  the  French- 
man on  guard.  But  Jack,  even  had  he  thought 
of  rushing  them  and  trying  to  escape,  knew 
that  it  was  useless.  The  door  was  locked 
and  the  window  shuttered  and  barred.  He 
recognised  that  his  position  was  desperate. 

"  Look  here,"  said  Sullivan,  "  I'm  inclined 
to  agree  with  Gaston,  but  mark  you,  I  won't 
be  dictated  to  by  anyone."  There  was  a 
murmur  of  assent. 

"  Right  you  are,  gov'n'r,"  said  the  little 
man.  "  We're  here  to  obey  orders  of  course, 
but  since  we've  all  got  something  to  lose  if 
things  go  wrong,  it's  only  fair  that  we  should 
all  have  a  say,  ain't  it,  pals  ?  ' 

"  Most  decidedly,"  said  the  young  man,  his 
voice,  Jack  noticed,  was  refined  and  cultivated 

"  Very  well  then,  let's  put  it  to  the  vote/' 


22  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

said  Sullivan.  "  Those  who  are  in  favour  of 
trusting  him,  put  their  hands  up."  At  once 
five  arms,  two  of  them  were  women's,  were 
raised. 

"  Women  don't  count/'  snarled  Alf  sullenly. 

"  Quite  so,"  assented  Sullivan,  and  Jack's 
heart  sank.  "  This  is  a  man's  job.  Now  we 

have  Bob,  Mike  and  Applet  on  for "  Jack 

Denham  watching  in  dread  fascination  saw 
the  arms  of  the  young  man,  the  fellow  with 
the  twisted  mouth,  and  the  tall  man  with  the 
moustache,  held  high  in  the  air.  '  Which 
means  that  there  are  three  against,"  went 
on  the  big  leader.  "  So  that's  a  washout." 

"  Let's  toss  for  it,  guv'n'r,"  suggested  Alf, 
grinning.  "  Heads  he  goes,  tails  he  stops  and 
gets  what's  coming  to  him."  The  others 
nodded.  Sullivan  produced  a  coin  and  sent 
it  spinning.  It  fell  with  a  clink  on  the  table, 
spun  round  for  a  second  and  lay  flat.  Jack 
strained  forward  and  felt  a  sudden  grip  upon 
his  arm. 

The  pretty  girl  flung  up  her  hands  and 
cried  out  : 

"  No  !     No  !     Let  him  go  !  " 

'  Tails  it  is,"  said  Sullivan,  and  put  the 
coin  in  his  pocket. 

"I'm  sorry,"  he  went  on,  turning  to  Jack, 
"  but  I'm  afraid  we  can't  part  with  you." 

Jack,  his  heart  beating  violently,  laughed. 

"  Nonsense,"  he  said.  "I've  got  to  go.  I 
must  go,  and  at  once,  time  is  everything  to 
me." 


23 

'  Time  is  of  no  consequence  to  us,"  replied 
Sullivan,  coldly. 

"  It  will  be  when  you  are  doing  it,"  retorted 
Jack,  airily.  There  was  a  general  titter. 

'  I  not  understand  this  joke,"  said  Gaston, 
sourly. 

'  You  wouldn't,"  replied  Jack.  "  But  you'll 
know  all  about  it  soon  if  you  detain  me  here 
against  my  will.  I  have  given  you  my  word, 
and  I'll  not  go  back  on  it,  and  you're  safe 
whatever  your  game  may  be,  I'm  not  given 
to  lying.  But  keep  me  here  and  you'll  pay, 
I  promise  you  that."  Some  of  the  men  laughed, 
the  pretty  woman  came  towards  him,  regarding 
him  with  admiration. 

'  You  are  very  brave,  boy,"  she  said. 

"  Not  at  all,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  am  not 
frightened,  if  that's  what  you  mean.  You 
can't  hurt  me." 

"  You  are  sure  of  that  ?  '  growled  the 
big  man. 

"  Not  quite  so  sure,  certainly,"  was  the 
retort,  "  when  I  look  at  your  face." 

Someone  laughed  and  Sullivan  scowled. 

"  Enough  of  this,"  cried  Gaston.  "  What 
will  be  done  now  with  him  ?  ' 

'  To  shoot  him  is  the  simplest  way  out 
of  it,"  said  the  big  man. 

"  No,  don't  do  that,"  said  Jack  pleasantly. 
"  Anyone,  any  fool  can  commit  murder,  but 
it's  not  everyone  who  can  get  rid  of  the  body. 
Do,  I  beg  of  you,  before  you  start  in  on  a 
shooting  stunt,  remember  the  body." 


24  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  You  laugh  at  us  ?  "  cried  the  foreigner, 
shaking  his  fist  suddenly  in  Jack's  face. 

"  Of  course,"  was  the  reply.  "  You  didn't 
expect  me  to  cry,  did  you  ?  You're  so  funny, 
you  know,  talking  calmly  about  shooting  a 
fellow  in  the  middle  of  London.  It  isn't  done, 
really.  In  my  opinion,  it's  hardly  what  one 
might  call  good  form.  Besides,"  he  added 
placidly,  "  my  big  brother  returns  to  my  rooms 
at  midnight,  and  if  I  am  not  there,  he  will 
search  London  for  me.  He  has  a  pal  at  the 
Yard.  You  know  where  that  is  ?  On  the 
Embankment.  I — er — took  a  taxi  here  from 
my  house,  they'll  soon  fish  me  out,  dead  or 
not  dead,  and  if  not  dead,  so  much  the  better 
for  all  of  you.  Do  I  make  myself  quite  clear, 
or  are  there  any  details  you  would  like  to 
have  explained  ?  ' 

"  I  suppose  all  this  is  true  ?  '"  demanded 
the  big  man. 

"  I  have  already  told  you  that  I  do  not 
lie,"  said  Jack,  conscious  of  the  fact  that  he 
had  done  so  pretty  badly  regarding  the  taxi. 
As  a  matter  of  fact  no  one  on  earth  could 
trace  him  the  way  he  had  worked  things. 
Unconsciously,  certainly,  but  nevertheless 
desperately  dangerously  for  him  at  the  moment. 
No  one  knew  he  had  left  his  rooms,  or  even 
that  he  had  been  there.  He  had  picked  up  the 
taxi  in  Oxford  Street,  and  he  had  left  it  at 
the  end  of  Staveley  Road. 

"  I  believe  the  fellow  is  lying,"  said  the 
young  man.  "  I  heard  no  taxi  draw  up  here." 


THE  WRONG  NUMBER  25 

"  If  you  were  a  little  nearer,"  said  Jack, 
"  I  would  take  infinite  pleasure  in  knocking 
you  down  for  that." 

"  Come,"  said  the  big  man.  "  What  is  to 
be  done  ?  You  know  the  situation  and  what 
it  means  to  us." 

"  Shoot  him  and  be  done  with  it,"  said  a 
voice,  Alf's. 

"No,  no  !  '"  cried  the  pretty  woman,  the 
other  close  beside  her  screamed.  "  You  must 
not  hurt  him,"  she  went  on,  "  there  are  other 
ways  if  you  will  only  think." 

She  came  over  to  Jack,  who  now  felt  his 
arms  gripped  by  the  two  men  on  either  side 
of  him.  She  put  her  hands  on  his  shoulders. 

'  You  do  give  your  promise,"  she  whispered, 
"  and  you  will  keep  it,  won't  you,  boy  ?  I 
don't  want  anything  to  happen.  Swear  it." 

"I  have  given  it,"  said  Jack,  "and  I'll 
add  this  to  seal  the  bargain,"  and  bending 
forward  he  kissed  her  frankly  on  the  mouth. 

"  Oh,  please  1  "  she  cried.  "  Please  !  " 
and  turned  to  Sullivan. 

'  What,  more  ?  "  said  Jack.  "  That's  greedy, 
but  here's  another,"  and  he  kissed  her  again. 
'  WTiat  scent  do  you  use  ?  "  he  then  asked, 
sniffing  the  air. 

"  Heliotrope,"  was  the  reply.  "  But  don't 
be  silly,  this  is  serious." 

"  Then  don't  use  so  much,"  said  he.  "  It 
isn't  done  among  the  best  people." 

Again  she  turned  to  Sullivan. 

"  You'll  let  him  go  ?  " 


26  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  It  don't  look  like  it,"  said  Jack.  "  These 
two  prize-fighters  of  yours  appear  to  have 
taken  a  violent  affection  for  me,  and  nothing 
will  induce  them  to  part  from  me." 

The  woman  regarded  him  for  a  moment, 
honest  admiration  in  her  eyes.  She  had  seen 
Sullivan  smile  too.  Perhaps  there  was  a  chance, 
if  she  could  play  her  cards  well. 

"I'm  glad  you  kissed  me,"  she  said.  "  But 
you  owe  me  for  them  all  the  same,  and  now 
you  pay." 

Then  with  a  laugh  she  thrust  her  hand  into 

his  breast  pocket  and  pulled  out  his  leather  case. 

'  Full  and  fat  !  "  said  she,   with  a  glance 

inside.     "  I'll  keep  it  for  remembrance  when 

you've  gone.     You  don't  mind,  boy  ?  ' 

"  A  pleasure,  of  course,"  said  he,  airily. 
"  It's  a  pity  it's  not  fuller.  It  will,  at  least, 
pay  your  expenses  to  gaol."  And  he  smiled 
at  her  ;  then  after  a  pause  :  "I'm  sorry  you 
took  it,  though,"  and  turned  his  face  away 
from  her. 

"  You  have  quite  done  with  this — badinage, 
hein  ?  "  asked  Gaston,  turning  to  the  lady. 
There  was  no  relenting  there,  fear  seized  her 
again. 

"  Can  I  do  nothing  ?  "  she  said  hopelessly. 
"Oh,  what  are  you  going  to  do  ?  '  She 
turned  to  the  others,  and  clasped  her  hands. 

"  You  must  be  quick,  you  know,  for  the 
guests  will  soon  be  here,  and  they  must  not 
know,"  put  in  Alf,  and  added  a  curse. 

"  No,  poor  beggars  !  "  said  Jack.     "  It  will 


THE  WRONG  NUMBER  27 

quench     their     ardent    desire    to    be    robbed, 
won't  it  ?  ' 

"  Silence,"  said  the  big  man,  angrily,  and 
pulled  an  automatic  from  his  breast  pocket. 
The  woman  screamed  and  threw  herself 
upon  him. 

"  Get  out  of  my  way,  Molly,  you  infernal 
fool,"  he  growled. 

"  No  !  "  she  cried.  "  You  shall  not.  There 
shall  be  no  murder  here.  We  may  be  thieves, 
but  we  have  never  killed  anyone  yet." 

"  That's  right,  give  the  whole  show  away, 
won't  you  ?  "  cried  Sullivan,  and  struck  her 
violently  across  the  face. 

"  You  damned  swine  !  "  cried  Jack,  and 
struggled  powerless  in  the  grip  of  the  two 
men.  "  Let  me  go,  curse  you,  you've  knocked 
her  down." 

"  Ton  my  word,  I'm  with  you  there,"  said 
the  young  man,  crossing  quickly  to  where 
Molly  lay  sobbing.  "  I  don't  stick  at  much, 
but  I  bar  striking  a  woman."  He  raised  the 
girl  and  put  her  into  a  chair. 

'  Then   she   should   keep   her   tongue 

quiet,"    retorted    Sullivan.     "  And    now     you 
stop  that,  you  fool." 

For  Jack  realised  at  last  that  they  meant 
to  kill  him.  He  had  asked  for  adventure 
and  excitement  and  now  he  was  having  his 
fill  of  it.  This  particular  brand,  however,  was 
hardly  pleasant.  Anger  seized  him,  fear  and 
a  desperate  desire  to  live.  With  a  sudden 
violent  movement  he  freed  his  arms  from  the 


28  THE   WRONG  NUMBER 

restraining  grip  and  struck  out  at  the  French- 
man. The  man  went  down  under  the  blow 
on  his  chin. 

'  You  damned  cowardly  brutes,"  he  cried 
furiously,  turning  to  resist  the  onslaught  of 
three  more. 

It  was  hopeless  from  the  first ;  the  women 
cowered  back  as  they  watched  the  unequal 
fight,  and  then  he  was  down,  panting  and 
breathless,  with  one  man  on  his  chest,  his 
arms  held. 

The  Frenchman,  dazed  from  the  blow,  picked 
himself  up  slowly  and  staggered  to  his  feet. 

"  For  me  the  coup  de  grace,"  he  said  jerkily, 
and  held  out  his  hand  for  Sullivan's  weapon. 
"  I  receive  the  knock  out.  I  return  him." 
Sullivan  drew  back. 

"  No,"  he  said.  "  Molly's  right.  There  must 
be  no  shooting  here,  we  can't  afford  a  noise. 
We  must  think  of  something  else." 

"  Why  not  give  him  a  cyanide  pillule, 
guv 'nor,"  suggested  Alf,  "  and  prop  'im  up 
outside  a  doorway.  Suicide  whilst  of  unsound 
mind." 

"  Dry  up,  you  blinking  little  fool,"  snapped 
the  young  man,  called  Bob,  coming  forward 
quickly.  "  Look  here,  Sullivan,  I  stick  at 
cold-blooded  murder.  The  fellow's  a  gentle- 
man, and  he  gave  his  word,  after  all." 

Then  Molly,  red-eyed,  came  forward  and 
put  her  arms  round  the  big  man's  neck. 

"  You  owe  me  something  for  that  blow,  my 
dear,"  she  said.  "  Give  me  his  life." 


THE  WRONG  NUMBER  29 

"  What's  he  to  you  ?  '  snarled  Sullivan, 
turning  on  her. 

"  Nothing,  Jim,  only  a  brave  man.  You're 
that  too,  you  know.  Let  him  live.  We  don't 
want  murder  on  our  consciences,  if  we've  got 
any.  Take  him  out  into  the  country  and 
leave  him  there,  and  meanwhile  we'll  get  out  of 
this.  Not  that  he'll  tell,  for  I  know  he  won't." 

'  That's  a  good  idea,  Moll,"  agreed  Bob. 
"  Don't  you  think  so,  Appleton  ?  '  He  turned 
to  the  man  with  the  moustache,  who  nodded. 

"  It's  better  than  guns  or  poison,"  he  said. 

"  Yes,"  agreed  Mike.  "  I  don't  like  the 
idea  of  murder." 

'  Well,"  said  Sullivan,  after  a  pause,  "  I 
admit  I  owe  Moll  something,  and  as  you  three 
are  agreed,  I'll  do  as  you  say.  Go  and  get 
the  car,  Appleton.  We'll  see  to  him."  Then 
he  turned  to  Gaston  : 

"  Strap  him  up  and  gag  him,"  he  said  curtly. 
"  As  you  are  a  sufferer  at  his  hands  you  shall 
have  that  pleasure."  The  Frenchman  grinned. 

Sullivan  touched  Jack  with  his  foot. 

"  Stand  up,"  he  said. 

He  obeyed  without  protest,  for  he  knew 
the  game  was  up.  He  knew  that  whatever 
they  might  say,  these  men  would  never  let 
him  go  alive.  They  meant  to  take  him  into 
the  country  and  kill  him  there.  The  poor 
girl,  Molly,  didn't  know  this  of  course,  but  he 
did.  It  was  not  likely  or  in  reason  to 
suppose  that  Sullivan  would  change  his  mind 
as  rapidly  as  he  had  done  without  some  motive. 


30  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

He  had  to  keep  the  girl  quiet,  and  he  had  to 
take  no  risks.  There  would  be  less  risk  if 
the  thing  were  done  out  in  the  country,  and 
Molly  herself  had  supplied  him  with  the  idea, 
which  he  had  seized  upon.  He  looked  round 
and  saw  the  Frenchman  coming  towards  him, 
an  evil  grin  on  his  face,  and  presently  he  found 
his  wrists  strapped  tightly  behind  him. 

"  You're  going  to  kill  me  of  course,"  he  said, 
and  looked  Sullivan  squarely  in  the  face.  The 
big  man  laughed. 

"  Shut  his  mouth  for  him,  Gaston,"  he  said 
sharply.  Jack  Denham  jerked  back  his 
head  as  the  Frenchman's  hands  touched  it, 
but  it  was  useless.  A  broad  piece  of  thin 
rubber  was  stretched  tightly  across  his  mouth 
and  fastened  behind  his  head. 

"  If  you  open  your  mouth,"  said  Sullivan, 
"  it  will  go  inside,  and  rubber  don't  taste 
particularly  nice,  I  reckon.  So  you'd  best 
keep  it  shut." 

Then  a  cord  was  lashed  round  his  ankles, 
and  he  swayed  forward.  The  young  man 
named  Bob  caught  him. 

"  Steady,"  he  said,  and  held  him  firm. 

"  Jim."     Molly  touched  Sullivan  on  the  arm. 

'  You  gave  me  your  word.     You  gave  me  his 

life,  remember."    There  was  desperate  anxiety 

in  her  eyes.     Jack  watched  her  in  a  kind  of 

wonder. 

"That's  all  right,  old  girl,"  said  Sullivan, 
pushing  her  aside.  "  Don't  you  worry.  Bring 
him  along.  Alf,  take  his  legs,  I'll  carry  the 


THE  WRONG  NUMBER  31 

shoulders.  We'll  go  straight  home,  Gaston, 
after  we've  got  rid  of  him.  It  won't  be  safe 
to  come  back  here,  his  people  may  be  looking 
for  him  and  get  on  to  his  tracks.  The  rest  of 
you  clear  up,  leave  Lizzie  in  charge,  and  come 
along  as  best  you  can." 

They  carried  Jack  Denham  through  the  door 
into  a  dark  passage  and  out  of  the  house.  A 
big  car  stood  at  the  gate  and  into  this  he  was 
placed  hurriedly,  Sullivan  seated  beside  him, 
Alf  with  the  driver,  Applet  on  in  front.  They 
started.  He  lay  back  feeling  suddenly  sick 
and  faint,  he  had  had  nothing  to  eat  since 
luncheon  and  the  smell  of  the  rubber  round 
his  mouth  nauseated  him.  He  was  young  and 
life  was  very  sweet.  The  bravest  man,  and 
he  did  not  lack  courage,  might  have  been 
pardoned  the  sensation  of  fear  and  horror 
that  assailed  him  then.  During  that  nightmare 
drive  his  thoughts  ran  riot.  That  poor  woman, 
what  of  her  ?  He  had  failed.  Would  she  ring 
up  the  other  Jack,  and  would  he  get  to  her 
in  time  ?  He  thought  of  the  elder  brother 
he  was  to  have  seen  that  night — the  brother 
who  had  told  him  so  often  that  his  insane  love 
of  adventure  would  one  day  carry  him  too  far, 
and  how  right  he  had  been.  Into  what  vile 
den  of  thieves  and  criminals  had  he  inadver- 
tently gone  ?  Well,  regrets  were  too  late  now, 
he  just  had  to  face  it.  He  always  had  faced 
things  and  he  would  not  turn  coward  now. 

They  drove  fast,  London  was  left  behind, 
and  they  were  out  in  the  country  on  a  smooth 


32  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

road.  Then  they  turned  abruptly  down  a 
rough  lane  with  trees  on  either  side,  and  the 
car  drew  up.  Sullivan  bade  him  sit  forward 
while  he  tested  the  bonds  at  his  wrists  and 
tightened  the  fastening  behind  his  head.  Once 
more  Alf  took  his  legs,  Sullivan  his  body  and 
he  was  lifted  out.  He  shivered  as  a  cold  damp 
air  struck  him  and  he  realised  that  it  was 
raining.  They  carried  him  across  a  field  and 
laid  him  down  and  he  waited  for  the  bullet  that 
was  to  end  his  life.  He  saw  Alf  turn  away 
and  peer  through  the  darkness  in  the  direction 
from  which  they  had  come.  He  noticed  that  his 
hand  which  held  the  electric  torch  shook 
suddenly. 

Sullivan  stood  over  him  holding  the  automatic 
in  his  hand. 

"  Are  you  ready  ?  "  he  asked  abruptly. 

Jack  Denham  nodded  his  head  in  acquiescence, 
his  eyes  staring  unflinchingly  into  those  of  his 
would-be  assassin.  For  a  moment,  which 
seemed  to  the  helpless  man  like  a  year,  there 
was  silence. 

Then  Alf  turned  quickly. 

"  Say,  guv'nor,"  he  said,  his  high-pitched 
voice  scarce  above  a  whisper,  "  how  about 
the  noise  ?  Wouldn't  it  be  better  to  bash 
in  his  brains  with  the  butt  end  ?  ' 

Sullivan  turned  upon  him. 

"  If  you  had  ever  known  me  to  go  back 
upon  my  word,  would  you  trust  and  obey  me 
as  you  do  ?  "  His  voice  was  low,  but  every 
word  cut  like  a  knife.  The  little  man  cringed. 


THE  WRONG  NUMBER  33 

"  No,  guv 'nor,  of  course  not." 

"  Very  good.  Then,  as  there's  nothing  more 
for  you  to  do,  at  present,  you  can  get  back 
to  the  car." 

Alf  placed  the  torch  on  the  grass  and  slunk 
off  without  a  word.  Sullivan  turned  to  Jack. 
"I'll  do  you  the  justice  to  admit  that  you're 
an  uncommonly  brave  fellow,"  he  said,  slowly. 
"  And  it's  partly  that,  and  partly  a  woman 
you  have  to  thank  that  I  don't  waste  a  bullet 
on  you.  I  gave  her  my  word  and  I  never  go 
back  on  that.  You  have  given  your  promise 
to  keep  your  mouth  shut.  I'll  trust  you,  not 
because  I'm  given  to  trusting  people.  I'm  not, 
but  because  if  you  are  set  on  living  you'll 
keep  it  shut.  For  I  give  you  my  solemn  oath 
that  if  the  police  get  to  know,  or  start  in  poking 
round  after  us,  your  life  won't  be  worth  a 
farthing  to  you  or  anyone  else.  You're  the 
only  living  soul  who  could  give  us  away,  and 
if  that  happens  I  shall  know  who's  done  it. 
Now,  you  lie  here  until  someone  finds  you — 
if  they  do — you'll  take  your  chance  of  that  and 
it  don't  worry  me  any ;  you'll  get  soaked 
through  and  it's  cursed  cold.  If  they  do  find 
you,  the  odds  are  you'll  die  from  the  exposure, 
but  there's  a  sporting  chance  that  you  don't, 
and  I'm  ready  to  take  it.  I  strongly  advise 
you  to  lie  still  and  not  try  to  move  about, 
there's  a  deep  pool  of  water  close  by  you, 
and  if  you  fell  in  you'd  drown.  By  the  time 
anyone  finds  you,  if  they  do,  we  shall  be  safe, 
so  don't  worry  about  us.  By  the  way,"  he 


34  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

went  on  in  a  change  of  voice,  "  you  kissed 
that  girl  twice  if  I  remember  rightly  ;  well, 
she  happens  to  be  my  woman,  so  I  owe  you 
for  those  kisses."  Then  very  deliberately  he 
raised  his  heavily  shod  foot  and  with  all  the 
force  he  had  kicked  him  twice  in  the  ribs. 
At  the  second  kick  Jack  heard  a  crack,  and  a 
violent  pain  forced  a  groan  from  him. 

"  Ah  !  "  said  Sullivan  with  a  laugh.  "  That 
will  take  some  mending.  So  long."  He  stooped 
down,  picked  up  the  torch  and  strode  off  into 
the  darkness. 

Jack  Denham  lay  in  agony.  The  first  kick 
had  been  bad  enough,  the  second,  he  knew 
had  fractured  a  rib,  if  not  two.  The  pain  of 
it  shot  through  his  body  in  fiery  darts,  to  breathe 
was  torture,  and  the  rain  came  down  and  beat 
upon  his  helpless  body,  soaking  him  through 
and  through,  numbing  him  with  its  pitiless 
cold  and  wet.  He  could  think  of  nothing 
now  but  the  merciless  pain  that  racked  him. 
An  intolerable  thirst  parched  him.  If  he  could 
get  his  face  to  the  ground  and  move  that 
horrible  rubber  band  perhaps  he  could  get 
at  the  pool  beside  him.  He  moved,  tried  to 
turn,  and  lost  consciousness. 

Tommy  Baker,  aged  four,  having  finished 
his  breakfast,  and  seeing  that  the  rain  had 
stopped,  left  off  teasing  the  cat  and  betook 
himself  to  his  beloved  fields,  now  in  a  condition 
to  ensure  his  becoming  exquisitely  dirty,  and 
made  a  bee  line  for  a  certain  pool,  which, 


THE  WRONG  NUMBER  35 

being  particularly  muddy,  was  calculated  if 
properly  manipulated  to  cover  him  with  more 
mud  than  was  to  be  obtained  elsewhere  with 
such  a  minimum  amount  of  trouble.  Near 
the  end  of  his  journey  an  aeroplane  overhead, 
attracted  his  attention,  and,  stumbling  over 
some  object  close  by  the  pool  he  fell  headlong. 
He  picked  himself  up  and  saw  that  the  obstacle 
was  a  man,  lying  full  length,  his  eyes  very 
bright  and  shiny  staring  up  into  the  sky, 
with  a  funny  brown  thing  over  his  mouth 
from  behind  which  more  funny  sounds  were 
coming.  Then  as  he  watched,  open  mouthed, 
the  sounds  ceased,  the  eyes  closed,  and  a  grey 
pallor  came  over  the  face.  Tommy,  suddenly 
frightened,  began  to  cry  loudly  and  tore  back 
to  his  mother,  who  was  cleaning  the  doorstep 
of  her  cottage  which  stood  on  the  high  road. 

'  Well,  and  what  now  ?  "  said  she,  stopping 
in  her  work. 

'  There's  a  man,"  said  Tommy,  pointing 
across  the  field.  "  He's  deaded.  There's  some- 
fing  on  'is  face  and  'is  legs  is  all  tied  up  and 
I'm  frightened." 

Whereupon  Mrs.  Baker,  being  very  busy, 
threatened  to  smack  her  offspring  if  he  told 
any  more  of  his  lies.  But  Tommy  insisted, 
and  was  evidently  so  thoroughly  frightened 
that  Mrs.  Baker  thought  there  must  be  some- 
thing in  it.  If  so  here  was  a  chance  to  be, 
so  to  speak,  in  at  the  death,  and  the  first  to 
broadcast  the  horrible  news.  So  she  started 
off  across  the  field  at  a  run.  She  found  the 


36  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

man,  and  going  down  on  her  knees  in  the  sopping 
grass  saw  that  his  eyes  were  open,  but  that 
he  appeared  to  be  unaware  of  her  presence. 
Mrs.  Baker  had  a  kind  heart,  and  moreover 
was  a  woman  of  common  sense. 

"  Lor  lumme  !  You  pore  thing,"  she  cried. 
"  Whatever  brute  could  'a  gone  and  done 
this  ?  '  She  unfastened  the  rubber  band, 
untied  the  ankles,  and  tried  to  turn  the  sodden 
figure  over.  A  cry  of  exquisite  agony  burst 
from  the  parched  lips,  once  more  the  eyes 
closed  and  a  leaden  pallor  dyed  the  face. 

"  My  Gawd  !  'e's  been  'urt."  She  sprang 
to  her  feet  and  tore  across  the  field  to  where 
she  knew  her  husband  was  working  on  the  road. 
Four  excited  men  returned  with  her,  the  fifth 
starting  off  at  a  run  to  the  police  station. 

Ten  minutes  later  Jack  Denham,  still  un- 
conscious, was  in  her  cottage,  wrapped  in 
blankets,  a  sergeant  of  police  and  a  constable 
bending  over  him. 

"  Do  you  know  who  he  is,  Mrs.  Baker  ?  ' 
asked  the  sergeant. 

"  That  I  don't.  'E's  a  gent  by  'is  clothes," 
she  said.  "  Better  look  in  'is  pockets,  sergeant." 

A  crumpled  envelope  was  found,  on  which 
some   notes   had   been   scrawled,    and    "  Jack 
Denham,  Esq.,"  read  the  sergeant.     "No.  - 
Lennox  Street." 

"  As  far  as  I  can  see  there's  a  rib  broken, 
and  the  rest's  caused  by  exposure." 

"  'E's  deaded,"  yelled  Tommy.  "  'E's 
deaded  and  I'm  frightened." 


THE   WRONG  NUMBER  37 

"  Pore  young  feller,"  said  Mrs.  Baker,  putting 
her  hand  on  the  damp  forehead,  and  then  : 
"  'Ere  you,  if  you  don't  stop  'ollering,  I'll 
twist  your  neck  for  you." 

John  Baker  grinned  at  the  sergeant's  face 
of  disgust. 

"  Never  you  mind  'er,"  he  said.  "  She 
don't  mean  it,  a  better  'earted  woman  don't 
live  than  'er,  she  wouldn't  'urt  a  fly." 

"  We'll  take  him  as  he  is,"  said  the  sergeant 
brusquely.  "  His  friends  will  return  you 
the  blankets,  Mrs.  Baker,  and  no  doubt  make 
your  trouble  worth  while." 

"  As  if  I  ever  thought  abaht  that,"  said  she 
indignantly,  and  to  do  her  credit,  she  never  had. 

"I'll  take  these  straps  and  rubber  band 
along  to  the  station  later,"  said  the  sergeant, 
"  they  may  help  us  find  who  did  this."  They 
carried  Jack  Denham  into  the  police  car  and 
took  him  to  his  rooms.  He  was  muttering  in 
delirium  when  the  door  opened  and  Edward 
Denham  bent  over  him. 

"  Good  God  !  Jack  !  "  he  said.  The  sergeant 
noticed  the  semblance  between  the  two,  though 
he  put  this  one  down  as  ten  years  older.  Briefly 
he  explained  the  situation,  and  Jack  was  taken 
upstairs. 

"  Been  saying  something  about  Staveley 
Road,"  said  the  sergeant,  as  he  stood  by  while 
Edward  Denham  rang  up  his  doctor.  "  And 
something  about  a  woman  being  murdered, 
couldn't  make  nothing  of  it." 

"  I'll  find  out  if  I  can  and  ring  up  Harper 


38  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

at  Scotland  Yard,"  said  Edward.  "  I  know 
him  personally.  Here's  something  for  you, 
sergeant,  and  will  you  take  these  blankets 
back  to  Mrs.  Baker  and  thank  her  for  what 
she  has  done  ?  If  poor  old  Jack  gets  through 
this,  it  will  be  her  prompt  action  that  has 
saved  him.  Kindly  give  her  this."  He  put 
a  five  pound  note  in  an  envelope  and  gave  it 
to  the  sergeant. 

"  Thank  you,  sir,  I  will  and  I'll  get  back  to 
the  station  and  report.  Anything  we  hear 
will  be  sent  on  to  Inspector  Harper.  Good 
morning,  sir." 

Dr.  Watman,  an  old  friend  of  the  Denhams, 
shook  his  head,  as  he  came  out  of  Jack's 
room. 

"I'll  get  a  nurse  at  once,  for  day  and  another 
for  night.  Stop  by  him  until  one  is  here  ; 
he  must  not  move,  and  it's  likely  he'll  try  to 
get  up.  There's  something  on  his  mind,  try 
and  see  what  you  can  make  of  it." 

Edward  sat  down  by  the  bed,  his  heart  as 
heavy  as  lead.  This  brother,  though  he  would 
have  died  rather  than  own  it,  was  the  apple 
of  his  eye,  and  his  only  living  relative. 

"  She  wants  me "  the  husky  voice  beside 

him  made  him  start.  "  Jack  !  come — he  will 
murder  me.  He's  killing  her — and  I  can't  go 
to  her.  It's  number  80,  not  18.  Is  she  safe  ? 
Oh  !  don't  let  him  strike  her — he's  knocked 
her  down  and  I  can't — I  can't.  They've 
trapped  me — they'll  kill  me.  Is  she  safe  ?  " 

"  Yes,   yes,   old   fellow,   of   course  she  is," 


THE  WRONG  NUMBER  39 

said  Edward,  catching  the  clutching  hand 
and  patting  it.  "No.  80,  where,  old  fellow, 
tell  me  where  if  you  can." 

Jack's  head  turned  and  bright  eyes  stared 
vacantly  at  his  brother. 

"  She  rang  me  up,"  went  on  the  husky  voice. 
"  Staveley  Road — 80 — 80 — and  I  went  to  18 
—they  trapped  me — he  threw  me  a  box  of 
matches — "  The  voice  trailed  off  into  inarticu- 
late muttering.  Edward  pulled  out  his  note- 
book and  wrote  the  address  rapidly. 

"  Oh  !  you  brutes,  you've  knocked  her  down." 
The  figure  in  the  bed,  stiff  with  bandages, 
tried  to  sit  up,  and  Edward,  rage  in  his  heart 
for  a  glimmering  of  the  truth  began  to  dawn 
upon  him,  laid  strong  and  tender  hands  upon  the 
burning  shoulders,  and  gently  held  them  down. 

"  Keep  still,  old  man,  you  mustn't  move," 
he  said. 

"  Molly  saved  me — "  groaned  the  voice.  "  I 
promised  not  to  tell,  and  he  left  me  there, 
and  kicked  me.  Six  of  them — Sullivan's  gang 
— Sullivan's —  "  once  more  a  pause. 

Edward  straining  for  every  word,  caught  a 
whisper — "  Gambling  hell — Molly  saved  me — 
he  threw  me  a  box  of  matches — " 

The  door  opened,  and  Jenkins  the  servant 
ushered  in  a  nurse. 

'  Keep  him  quiet,  nurse,"  said  Edward 
quickly,  "  while  I  go  to  the  'phone.  If  he 
talks  tell  me  all  you  hear." 

The  woman  nodded,  and  Edward  flung  into 
the  sitting-room. 


40  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  Scotland  Yard,"  he  said  down  the  receiver, 
and  then  after  a  pause  :  "  Is  that  you,  Harper  ?  " 

"  No,"  came  the  reply.  "  Inspector  Harper's 
just  come  in.  Been  out  about  that  Staveley 
Road  affair.  Who  is  speaking  ?  " 

"Good  God!"  said  Edward.  "Then  it's 
true." 

'  What's  that  !    Who  is  speaking  ?  " 

"  Edward  Denham.  Send  Harper  to  speak 
to  me  at  once." 

"  Right,  sir,  hold  the  line."  Edward  Denham 
waited  impatiently. 

"  That  you,  Harper  ?  '  he  said  at  last. 
"  What's  this  about  the  Staveley  Road  affair  ?  " 

"  Good  Lord  !  "  came  the  reply.  "  How 
do  you  come  to  know  about  that  ?  ' 

"  Never  mind,  I'll  tell  you  afterwards.  My 
brother  knows  something  about  it,  tell  me 
details." 

"  He  would,"  the  voice  was  ironical.  "  Fact 
is  a  Mrs.  Allwood  living  at  No.  80,  Staveley 
Road,  was  set  upon  by  a  drunken  brute  of  a 
husband  ;  the  constable  on  his  rounds  heard 
her  cries  and  got  in  just  in  time.  The  fellow's 
been  taken  to  an  inebriates'  home.  Now  what 
does  Mr.  Jack  know  about  it  ?  ' 

"  My  brother  was  found  this  morning  by 
a  woman,  tied  up  and  gagged,  unconscious 
from  exposure  and  with  a  broken  rib,"  replied 
Edward  grimly.  "  He  was  lying  in  a  field 
near  Barnet.  They  got  him  back  here,  and 
he's  delirious  and  talking  about  a  woman 
who  rang  him  up  in  Staveley  Road.  I  gather, 


THE  WRONG  NUMBER  41 

as  he  knows  no  one  in  that  part  of  London, 
that  a  wrong  number  was  put  through,  but 
hearing  a  woman  cry  out  for  help  he  went 
off,  as  he  would,  and  apparently  went  to  No.  18 
by  mistake,  and  got  trapped  in  a  gambling  hell." 

"  Good  Lord  !  "  said  the  voice  at  the  other 
end.  "Go  on." 

"  I  can't  make  head  or  tail  of  it  of  course, 
he  speaks  of  Sullivan's  gang,  six  of  them,  and 
that  some  girl  saved  his  life.  Do  you  know 
anything  about  such  a  gang  ?  " 

"  Sullivan  !  "  repeated  Harper.  "  I  know  of 
a  Sullivan  who  was  hanged  for  murder  some 
time  back,  but  he  can't  have  come  to  life 
again.  No,  never  heard  of  Sullivan's  gang. 
Don't  you  think  he's  got  mixed  up  in  some  sort 
of  fight  and  is  just  talking  nonsense  ?  " 

"  No,  I  don't,"  said  Edward.  "  He  keeps 
on  repeating  that  he  was  trapped  and  going 
to  be  killed,  that  he  gave  his  promise — I 
imagine  not  to  give  them  away — that  a  girl 
called  Molly  saved  his  life,  that  they  kicked 
him  and  left  him  there.  That's  all  I  can 
make  out.  Can  you  send  some  men  round, 
Harper,  to  No.  18  and  find  out  if  there's  any- 
thing in  it  ?  ' 

"I'll  go  myself  if  it  comes  to  that,"  was 
the  reply.  "  But  I  doubt  the  story  somehow. 
However,  as  he  seems  to  be  right  about  the 
other  part  of  it,  I'll  look  into  it,  and  I'll  ring 
you  up  later." 

And  later  Edward  listened  to  Harper's  story. 

"  Nothing  doing,"  he  said.     "  No  signs  of 


42  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

gambling  or  anything  else.  House  in  charge 
of  a  respectable  looking  caretaker,  but  the 
inspector  at  Barnet  has  been  over  here  and 
handed  in  the  things  your  brother  was  tied 
up  with.  Which  doesn't  help  us  much.  We'll 
have  to  wait  till  he  can  tell  us  about  it.  How 
is  he  ?  " 

"  Alive,"  said  Edward  hoarsely,  "  that's  all 
I  can  say." 

"  Good  God  !  I'm  sorry."  The  tone  was 
full  of  sympathy.  "  Buck  up,  Captain  Denham, 
he's  young,  he'll  pull  through." 

And  so  Edward  Denham,  two  untiring 
nurses  and  an  old  doctor  fought  death  and 
conquered. 

Many  days  later  as  Edward  sat  by  the  bed, 
Jack  looked  at  him  and  spoke. 

"  Have  I  been  talking,  Eddy  ?  "  he  asked, 
hardly  above  a  whisper. 

"  Yes,  old  fellow,"  replied  the  elder  man. 
"  But  don't  worry,  you're  all  right,  thank 
God,  and  the  police  got  to  No.  80,  Staveley 
Road  in  time  and  saved  the  lady.  So  you've 
nothing  to  worry  about." 

Jack  gave  a  sigh  of  relief,  and  then  after 
a  pause  : 

"  Did  I  say  anything  else  ?  " 

"  Yes,  lots.  I  put  two  and  two  together 
and  sent  Harper  round  to  No.  18,  but  the 
birds  had  flown.  You  can  tell  us  later  all 
about  it,  old  chap,  don't  talk  any  more  now." 

"  But  I  must."  A  terrible  anxiety  showed 
in  the  white  haggard  face.  "  I  gave  my 


THE  WRONG  NUMBER  43 

promise  not  to  tell,  and  they  swore  that  if  the 
police  went  after  them,  they'd  kill  me." 

Edward  looked  grave. 

"  Never  mind  that/'  he  said  after  a  pause. 
"  A  promise  given  undei  compulsion  is  a 
washout,  and  in  any  case  it's  taken  out  of 
your  hands  now.  I  know  so  much  that  when 
you  are  able  to  talk  you'll  have  to  tell  me  the 
rest.  All  you  have  to  do  now  is  to  get  well 
again,  old  boy." 

'  You  told  Harper  ?  "  asked  the  weak  voice. 

'  Yes,  he  went  round  to  see  for  himself  and 
found  nothing." 

'  What  did  he  say  ?  " 

"  Oh  !  thought  you  were  mistaken.  He  knows 
nothing  of  a  man  called  Sullivan,  or  any  such 
gang.  Thinks  you  dreamt  it." 

"  Eddy  !  ';  The  older  brother  bent  down. 
'  Harper's  a  damned  fool.  Tell  him  I  said  so." 

Edward  Denham  laughed,  and  then  suddenly 
choked.  This  wilful  brother  of  his  was  very 
dear  to  him  and  he  had  come  very  near  to 
losing  him. 

"  I'll  tell  him,  old  son,"  he  said,  when  he 
could  speak.  "  Now,  be  quiet  and  lie  still  or 
I'll  send  for  Dr.  Watman." 

"  They'll  think  I  broke  my  word  and  gave 
them  away,"  said  Jack,  bitterly.  "  They'll 
get  me  now,  Sullivan  swore  it.  You  might 
just  as  well  have  let  me  die,  Eddy." 

"  Nonsense,  they'll  not  get  you  while  I'm 
alive,  old  son,"  said  Edward.  But  his  heart 
misgave  him.  This  episode  was  closed  and 


44  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

Jack  had  escaped  death  by  a  miracle.  But 
if  what  he  said  was  true  there  was  grave  danger 
ahead.  But  he  would  not  let  his  brother  know 
he  thought  so. 

"  Give  the  police  a  chance,  old  fellow,"  he 
said,  smiling.  "  I  wouldn't  be  Sullivan's  gang 
for  a  good  deal,  if  they  get  on  to  them."  There 
was  a  long  pause. 

"  I  can't  help  them,"  said  Jack  at  last. 
"  I  gave  my  word,  and  on  that  word  my  life 
was  spared.  Besides,  I  can't  hurt  Molly.  So 
I'll  just  have  to  take  my  chance." 


CHAPTER   II 

A  WOMAN'S  REASON 

AMONG  the  many  passengers  who  got 
out  of  the  morning  boat  train  at 
Folkestone  were  the  two  brothers, 
Edward  and  Jack  Denham.  It  was  a  hot  day 
in  the  middle  of  July,  and  perspiring  and  fussy 
passengers  hurrying  by,  loaded  with  unnecessary 
baggage,  envied  the  two  cool,  self-possessed 
young  men  as  they  stalked  along  the  platform, 
the  elder  with  the  upright  easy  swing  of 
the  British  army  officer,  the  other,  a  trifle 
less  upright  with  a  hesitation  in  the  walk, 
a  pallor  on  the  good-looking  face,  that 
spoke  of  recent  illness.  As  they  passed  the 
hissing  engine,  and  the  boat  which  was  to  take 
them  to  Boulogne  came  into  view,  a  breath 
of  strong  sea  air  blew  upon  them. 

"  By  Jove,  that's  good  !  "  said  Jack,  and 
straightened  his  shoulders.  '  That'll  buck  me 
like  nothing  else,  Eddy,  but  I  wish  to  God  you'd 
give  me  one  of  those  suit  cases,  I'm  not  such 
scrapped  goods  as  all  that." 

The  elder  brother  took  not  the  slightest 
notice,  but  stalked  on  ahead.  It  was  only  when 
they  were  on  board  and  seated  comfortably 


45 


46  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

in  two  deck  chairs  that   Edward  deigned    to 
take  notice  of  the  remark. 

"  Look  here,  old  son,"  he  said.  "  Let's 
understand  each  other,  once  and  for  all,  and 
then  there  will  be  no  more  cause  for  argument. 
You  have  argued  about  things  pretty  thoroughly 
all  the  way  from  London,  and  though  they 
say  irritability  is  a  sign  of  convalescence,  for 
which  God  be  thanked,  still,  it  becomes  trying 
at  times.  Dr.  Watman 's  orders  were — no 
exertion,  bodily  or  mental." 

"  He  could  have  scrapped  the  mental  part 
of  it,"  put  in  Jack  with  a  grin — "  I've  no  brains 
to  exercise." 

"  The  truth  at  last,  by  Jack  Denham," 
retorted  the  other.  "  However,  let  me  go 
on  with  my  harangue  and  get  it  over.  He 
also  said  no  long  journey — hence  this  short 
trip — sea  air,  good  food  and  wine,  sea  bathing 
in  moderation,  sleep,  lots  of  sleep.  All  this, 
he  said,  you  will  get  at  Boulogne  as  well  as 
you  would  if  you  went  further  to  look  for  it. 
Those  were  his  orders,  old  fellow,  and  I  am 
here  to  see  they  are  carried  out." 

"It's  rot,"  said  Jack,  irritably.  "I'm  as 
fit  as  a  fiddle.  If  there's  one  thing  I  hate 
it's  a  fuss." 

"  Most    normal    Englishmen    do,"    was    the 

reply.     "  But  as  Watman  says " 

"  Watman  be  damned,"  said  Jack. 

"  Oh  !  you  can  damn  old  Watman  for  all 
you  are  worth,"  said  the  elder  brother,  quietly; 
"  but  you'll  obey  his  orders,  old  son.  So 


A  WOMAN'S  REASON  47 

make  no  mistake  about  that.  Besides,  you 
are  not  as  fit  as  a  fiddle.  It  would  take  the 
very  strongest  man  a  long  time  to  get  over 
what  you  went  through,  nearly  twenty-four 
hours'  exposure  in  soaking  rain  and  east  wind, 
and  a  compound  fracture  of  the  rib.  You 
know  we  Denhams  are  lungy  people,  worse 
luck,  and  though  I  grant  you  that  we  have 
plenty  of  pluck,  we  are  not  of  the  very  strongest, 
else  why  are  we  the  last  of  our  race  ?  At  any 
rate,  grumble  as  you  like,  I  think  you  are  free 
from  the  attention  of  Sullivan's  gang,  for  the 
time." 

"  I  had  a  good  look  at  Victoria  Station," 
admitted  Jack,  "  and  I  certainly  saw  nothing 
of  any  of  the  damned  blighters." 

"  Let's  have  a  look  at  that  note  again," 
said  Edward,  holding  out  his  hand.  "  Came 
three  days  ago,  didn't  it  ?  ': 

'  That's  right,"  was  the  reply. 

Jack  pulled  out  his  note  case  and  took  from 
it  a  half  sheet  of  paper.  On  it  was  written 
in  type  the  following  message  : 

'  Your  life  was  spared  on  condition  that 
you  gave  your  word  of  honour  not  to  put 
the  police  on  us.  That  word  you  have 
broken,  therefore  you  are  warned  that  no 
stone  will  be  left  unturned  to  bring  you  to 
justice.  Your  life  is  forfeit;  the  note  case 
you  left  behind  we  return.  It  is  well  for 
us,  but  bad  for  you  that  inside  it  were  some 
of  your  visiting  cards.  We  return  these 


48  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

since  they  are  of  no  further  use  to  us,  and 
I  fear  of  not  very  much  more  use  to  you. 
At  least  I  kept  my  word  to  you.  The  best 
thing  you  can  do  now  is  to  make  your  will. 

"  JIM  SULLIVAN." 

"  I'm  afraid  he  means  business,"  said  Edward, 
slowly,  as  he  gave  the  note  back.  "  There  is 
a  quiet,  grim  menace  about  that  letter  that 
is  more  full  of  meaning  than  columns  of  abuse 
would  have  been." 

"It's  simply  damnable  they  can't  be  told 
that  I  gave  the  show  away  in  delirium,  and 
never  of  my  own  wish,"  said  Jack,  angrily. 
"  The  threat  of  death  isn't  half  so  bad  to  face 
as  the  fact  that  they  think  me  the  worst  kind 
of  dishonourable  sneaking  cur." 

"  Sullivan  and  his  gang  are  such  honourable, 
high-minded  fellows  themselves,  aren't  they  ?  " 
said  Edward,  with  sarcasm.  "  I  shouldn't 
worry  about  that,  anyway." 

"  At  least  he  kept  his  word  to  the  girl,  Molly," 
retorted  Jack.  "  He  didn't  shoot  me." 

"  No — only  left  you  tied  up  and  gagged  in 
the  bitter  cold  and  rain,  and  smashed  in  a  rib 
for  you  to  make  it  more  uncomfortable.  Do 
you  know—  '  the  elder  brother  turned  on  him 
suddenly — "  that  you  nearly  went  out,  Jack  ?  " 

"  I  gathered  as  much,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  but 
I  didn't,  and  Sullivan  said  he  would  take  the 
sporting  chance  that  I  wouldn't." 

"  Good  God  !  "  exclaimed  the  other.  "  One 
would  think  you  admired  the  fellow." 


A  WOMAN'S  REASON  49 

"  I  don't.  He's  an  absolute  blackguard, 
but  I  can't  set  the  police  on  his  track,  as  I 
promised  not  to,  and  also,  I  don't  want  to 
hurt  Molly.  At  the  same  time,  if  they  try 
to  do  me  in  now,  I'll  call  the  bargain  off,  that 
much  I  promise  you,  always  so  long  as  the  girl 
doesn't  suffer.  Now  shut  up,  I'm  going  to 
sleep." 

"  Give  me  your  passport  then,  and  I'll  get 
it  stamped  for  you." 

Down  below  Edward  Denham  joined  the 
queue  of  travellers  who  thronged  to  get  their 
passports  vised  before  the  boat  started. 

In  front  of  him  was  a  small  man  in  a  thin 
overcoat,  the  collar  of  which  was  turned  up 
over  his  chin,  a  felt  hat  hiding  the  upper  part 
of  his  face.  He  darted  through  the  opening 
with  quick  cat-like  movement,  Edward  following 
more  slowly  behind.  The  little  man  held  out 
his  book,  took  it  back,  and  the  next  moment, 
so  it  seemed  to  Edward,  vanished.  There 
was  no  sign  of  him  when  Edward  once  more 
came  on  deck  and  sat  down  beside  his  brother, 
who  was  evidently  fast  asleep.  No  second 
thought  of  the  little  man  came  into  Edward's 
mind,  only  a  serene  thankfulness  when  the 
siren  bellowed  forth  its  ear-splitting  noise 
and  at  last  they  were  off.  He  would  perhaps 
have  felt  less  ease  of  mind  had  he  known  that 
for  the  last  few  days  his  flat  had  been  very 
carefully  watched,  and  that  keen  ferret  eyes 
were  even  now  watching  his  every  movement 
and  those  of  the  sleeping  figure  at  his  side. 


50  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

It  was  a  calm  crossing,  but  the  boat  was 
uncomfortably  crowded,  Americans,  over- 
dressed English  nouveaux  riches,  business  men, 
all  sorts  and  conditions  sitting  or  standing  or 
promenading  to  and  fro.  .  .  .  He  watched 
them  with  idle  curiosity  and  was  thankful 
when  the  long  low  harbour  came  in  view, 
and  the  boat  backed  stern  foremost  into  its 
landing  place. 

Immediate  bustle  and  stir,  and  Jack,  only 
half  awake,  stood  up  beside  him. 

"  Shall  be  glad  of  some  grub,"  he  said. 
"This  sea  air  plays  the  deuce  with  one's  inside." 

"  Glad  to  hear  it,  old  man,  I  want  to  see  some 
flesh  on  your  bones.  Here  come  the  porters." 

Down  went  the  gangway  ;  over  the  way  the 
Paris  express  was  waiting ;  on  to  the  boat 
swarmed  blue  figures.  Edward  felt  his  suit 
cases  seized  and  a  number  was  barked  at  him. 

"  Seventee-two,  monsieur,"  said  a  short, 
unshaven  little  man.  "  I  collect  ze  baggage 
and  meet  you  at  ze  douane." 

A  small  overcoated  figure  brushed  past  the 
two  brothers;  they  were  across  the  gangway, 
landing  tickets  given  up,  and  away  to  the 
douane. 

"  Care  to  change  any  more  oof  ?  '  asked 
Edward. 

They  stopped  at  the  exchange  bureau,  and 
Jack  put  his  hand  into  his  breast  pocket  and 
swore  suddenly. 

"  By  Jove  !  "  he  said.  "  My  note  case  has 
been  pinched  and  I  never  felt  a  damned  thing." 


A  WOMAN'S  REASON  51 

"  Had  you  much  in  it  ?  "  asked  Edward. 

'  No,  luckily,  but  that  blinking  letter  was 
inside." 

Through  the  douane — nothing  to  declare. 
Away  to  the  Continental  facing  the  sea,  in 
the  hotel  conveyance ;  little  ferret  eyes  watch- 
ing the  while,  and  long  sinewy  fingers,  feeling 
with  tender  touch,  the  soft  leather  of  an  expen- 
sive note  case.  A  journey  by  the  sleuth  on  foot  to  a 
near  hotel,  and  after  some  hours,  the  sea  again, 
and  once  more  the  white  cliffs  of  old  England. 
Not  a  very  long  stay  abroad,  indeed,  but  long 
enough  to  note  the  destination  of  two  interesting 
young  men,  and  sufficient  conversation  over- 
heard to  note  that  they  would  go  no  further. 

The  young  men  in  question  were  driving 
rapidly  over  rough  uneven  cobble  stones  inter- 
spersed with  railway  lines,  on  which  trains  were 
standing. 

"  What  a  beastly  looking  hole,"  said  Jack. 
"  What  on  earth  was  old  Wat  man  thinking 
about  to  suggest  an  ungodly  place  like  this  ?  " 

Edward  laughed. 

"It's  a  bad  beginning,"  he  admitted,  "  but 
if  more  people  took  the  trouble  to  penetrate 
the  town  itself  they  would  think  it  worth 
while.  It's  an  old  world  sort  of  place,  and 
especially  the  high  town  with  its  thirteenth 
century  ramparts."  He  waved  a  hand  and 
Jack  looked  up  at  immense  cliffs  on  which 
were  perched  grey  stone  buildings,  a  church 
spire,  a  large  crucifix  overlooking  the  sea. 

They    crossed    a    bridge.     A    tram    clanked 


52  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

by  laden  with  passengers,  most  of  whom 
appeared  to  be  hanging  on  by  the  skin  of  their 
teeth  to  the  outside  of  the  vehicle. 

"  Fancy  our  authorities  allowing  that,"  said 
Jack. 

'  Yes,  and  you  pretty  well  go  as  you  please 
here,"  was  the  reply,  "  except  for  the  matter 
of  windows  which  are  usually  hermetically 
sealed.  However,  we've  got  our  own  sitting- 
room,  and  when  you  are  not  outside,  you'll 
be  sitting  by  an  open  window,  my  son." 

"Good  old  Eddy,"  said  Jack.  "English 
to  the  backbone,  fresh  air  and  all." 

They  swept  round  once  more  and  passed 
a  long  row  of  hotels  and  apartments  ;  here 
and  there  a  woman  sitting  by  her  fruit  stall. 

"  Splendid  fruit  in  the  markets  Wednesday 
and  Saturday,"  said  Edward,  "  and  cheap  as 
dirt." 

"  Your  knowledge  is  comprehensive,"  ob- 
served his  brother. 

"  Aileen  and  her  mother  came  over  last  year 
and  we  spent  a  rather  jolly  fortnight  here," 
was  the  reply. 

They  passed  the  fine  Casino  on  the  left  and 
drew  up  at  their  hotel.  An  obsequious  manager 
bowed  them  inside. 

"  A  pleasure  to  see  you  again,  monsieur," 
he  said. 

Girls  in  varying  degrees  of  undress,  with 
shorn  locks  and  an  immense  length  of  flesh- 
coloured  stockings,  chattered  and  gossiped  in 
the  lounge. 


A  WOMAN'S  REASON  53 

"  A  pity,"  observed  Edward,  sotto  voce  as 
he  looked  at  them.  "  We  don't  like  it  really, 
do  we  ?  " 

"  If  they  but  knew,"  replied  Jack  with  a 
shrug. 

They  were  shown  to  their  suite  on  the  first 
floor. 

"  Dejeuner  tout   de  suite,"  said  Edward. 

A  waiter  flourished  a  napkin.  "  Bien,  mon- 
sieur." 

"  And  a  bottle  of  the  Widow,"  added  Edward, 
in  English. 

The  man  smiled  and  left  them  alone. 

"  Talking  of  Aileen,"  said  Jack,  as  he  flung 
himself  into  an  arm-chair  by  the  open  window, 
"  weren't  you  going  down  into  Kent  to  see 
her,  old  man  ?  ' 

"  I  was,  but  we  put  it  off,  of  course." 

Jack  looked  at  him.  "  I  say,  Eddy,  you're 
jolly  good  to  me,  you  know,  and  really  I'm 
not  worth  it." 

Edward  flushed  under  his  tan.  English  to 
the  backbone,  as  his  brother  had  said,  anything 
in  the  nature  of  sentiment  must  be  barred  at 
once. 

"  Oh  !  that's  all  right,"  he  said,  carelessly. 
"  And  as  for  your  worth,  always  remember 
that  we  are  the  last  of  our  race.  I  wish  to 
God  you'd  marry  some  nice  girl  and  settle 
down." 

"  What    price    yourself,    dear    old    soul  ?  ' 
retorted  Jack.     "  Aileen   and   you   have   been 
hanging  on  for  two  years  now." 


54  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  She  wants  her  fling,"  was  the  reply.  "I'm 
fond  enough  of  her  to  be  able  to  wait  her 
pleasure." 

'  That's  certainly  one  way  of  being  fond," 
said  Jack.  "  When  I  meet  my  dream  woman 
(I've  got  one,  you  know),  I  shan't  wait  five 
minutes." 

Edward  turned  and  looked  at  him.  "  I  had 
no  idea  you  went  in  for  dream  women,"  he  said. 

"  I  don't,  only  one.  I  often  dream  of  her. 
When  I  was  ill  she  came  many  times.  By 
Jove,  Eddy  !  She's  It  !  Absolutely  It  !  And 
the  odd  thing  is  I'm  sure  I  shall  meet  her  one 
day." 

"  I  sincerely  hope  so,"  was  the  dry  reply. 
"  It  will  be  no  end  of  relief  to  hand  you  over 
to  her,  my  lad.  I  only  hope  she's  a  woman 
of  strong  character." 

"  Whatever  else  she  isn't,  she's  a  woman," 
snapped  Jack.  "  Not  a  half  boy,  and  she 

wears   decent   clothes.      I    wonder "      He 

broke  off  suddenly  and  looked  at  his  brother. 
"  That  telephone  call,  did  you  ever  hear  any- 
thing more  of  her  ?  The  lady  who  rang  me 
up  in  mistake  for  someone  else  ?  ' 

"  Her  name  is  Mrs.  Allwood,"  was  the  reply. 
"  Dr.  Watman  knows  her,  knew  her  mother. 
But  of  course,  being  a  professional  matter, 
he  said  nothing  more.  The  brute  of  a  husband 
died  about  two  weeks  ago." 

"  Best  thing  he  ever  did  in  his  misbegotten 
life,"  commented  Jack.  "  I  wish  Sullivan  and 
his  gang  would  do  it  too." 


A  WOMAN'S  REASON  55 

They  spent  a  happy  fortnight  together, 
and  Edward  Denham  saw  health  and  vigour 
returning  to  his  brother's  wasted  form.  They 
bathed,  they  went  motor  drives  into  the  sur- 
rounding country.  Nothing  unforeseen  occurred ; 
Sullivan's  gang  was  forgotten.  Edward 
received  occasional  scrawled  notes  from  In- 
spector Harper,  his  friend  at  Scotland  Yard, 
informing  him  that  there  was  nothing  to 
inform.  Having  been  refused  a  description 
of  the  members  of  the  gang  by  Jack,  he  had 
nothing  to  go  on. 

They  made  acquaintances  here  and  there. 
One  day  about  a  week  after  their  arrival 
Jack  and  his  brother  were  strolling  along 
the  promenade  watching  the  crowd  of 
bathers,  jostled  by  endless  parties  of  girls  and 
men,  the  former  in  the  flimsiest  attire,  if  it 
could  be  called  that  at  all,  most  of  the  latter 
in  broad-brimmed  hats  and  exotic  bow  ties, 
when  a  woman,  walking  alone,  brushed  past 
Jack,  and  a  strong  scent  of  heliotrope  was 
wafted  to  his  nostrils. 

"  Heliotrope,"  he  mused.  "Now  where  have 
I  smelt  that  particularly  strong  variety  lately." 

"  Pah  !  "  said  Edward,  waving  his  handker- 
chief. '  Why  do  women  do  it  ?  Especially 
when  one  can  inhale  the  glorious  scent  of  the 
sea.  Disgusting  habit." 

"  Where — where — where  ?  "  mused  Jack,  and 
finally  gave  it  up. 

Once  more  he  noticed  it,  at  the  Casino  when 
he  was  sitting  in  the  stalls  listening  to  Faust, 


56  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

wonderfully  rendered  by  a  company  staying 
there  for  the  season.  He  looked  round,  but 
recognised  no  one.  Only  a  woman  was  standing 
with  her  back  to  him,  and  presently  she  went 
out.  He  got  up,  intending  to  follow,  but  at 
that  moment  the  curtain  rose  and  Edward 
caught  his  arm. 

"  Sit  down,  man,  what  are  you  doing  ? 
This  is  the  last  act,  and  we  mustn't  miss  that 
for  anything." 

He  sat  down,  and  later  they  both  had  cause 
to  regret  it. 

Then  at  the  end  of  the  fortnight  came  a 
wire  for  Edward  Denham.  He  tore  it  open 
and  Jack  saw  his  face  go  grey. 

"  My  God  !  "  he  heard  him  say.     "  My  God !  " 

Then  Jack  tore  the  flimsy  from  his  hand  and 
read  the  message.  It  was  from  Aileen's  mother. 

"  Aileen  met  with  bad  riding  accident,  come 
at  once." 

Jack  looked  at  his  watch  and  gripped  his 
brother's  hand.  "  All  right,  old  man,"  he  said, 
"  you'll  just  catch  the  11.30  boat  if  you  hurry." 

Edward  nodded.  "  What  about  you  ?  "  he 
asked,  dully. 

"  Me  !  Good  God  Almighty  !  Nothing 
about  me  !  I'll  stay  here  and  wait  for  you  to 
come  back.  I'm  sure  it's  not  as  bad  as  you 
think.  Buck  up,  old  chap — hurry,  or  you'll 
miss  that  boat." 

"  I  think  you'd  better  come  too,"  said 
Edward. 


A  WOMAN'S  REASON  57 

"I'm  not  going  to,  then,  and  that's  flat. 
This  place  is  doing  me  tons  of  good  and  here 
I  stay.  You  silly  old  ass,  I'm  quite  safe.  No 
one  will  touch  me  here  in  all  this  hefty  crowd." 

"  111  get  Harper  to  send  a  man  out,"  said 
Edward.  "  For  of  course  I  must  go — I  can't 
help  myself." 

"  Harper  be  hanged,"  said  Jack. 

"  I  will,  all  the  same." 

"  All  right,  then,  tell  the  man  to  bring  his 
handcuffs  with  him  in  case  I  give  him  the  slip," 
he  said,  ironically.  "  Poor  old  Eddy,"  he  added. 
"I'll  help  you  pack  and  see  you  on  to  the  boat." 

Jack  raised  his  hand  in  salute  as  the  boat 
moved  slowly  from  the  quay,  bearing  away 
that  tall,  grey-faced  man,  who  was  father 
brother  and  C.O.  all  in  one.  He  felt  curiously 
lonely  as  he  returned  to  the  hotel. 

"  A  lady  to  see  you,  monsieur,"  said  the 
hall  porter.  "  She  is  in  the  sitting-room." 

He  went  upstairs,  vaguely  wondering.  The 
two  girls  he  had  got  to  know  had  left  the  day 
before.  He  opened  the  door  and  a  strong 
smell  of  heliotrope  met  him.  He  went  in. 

A  woman  rose  from  a  chair  and  came  towards 
him.  He  stopped,  stared,  stood  tongue-tied 
with  amazement  and  a  sudden  nameless  dread. 

It  was  Molly,  the  girl  he  had  last  seen  in  the 
gambling  den  in  Staveley  Road. 


Edward  Denham  spent  five  minutes  in   his 
flat,   collecting  some   things,    and   ringing   up 


58  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

Inspector  Harper.  But  Harper  was  not  in 
town  and  could  not  be  got  at.  There  was 
no  one  else  he  could  apply  to,  so  he  had  to 
leave  it. 

"For  after  all,"  he  thought,  "he's  safe 
enough,  as  he  says,  in  that  crowd." 

It  was  but  an  hour's  run  to  his  fiancee's 
home  in  Kent,  and  he  arrived  at  Appleby  Hall 
in  a  taxi  as  the  clock  struck  six.  An  amazed 
butler  showed  him  in.  To  the  best  of  his 
knowledge  and  belief  Captain  Denham  was 
in  France  looking  after  an  invalid  brother. 

"  Miss  Aileen,  how  is  she  ?  "  Edward  could 
hardly  force  the  words  from  his  dry  lips.  Once 
more  the  butler  stared. 

"  She  is  very  well,  sir.  She  is  in  the  drawing- 
room.  "Will  you " 

"  Very  well !  "  repeated  Edward.  "  What 
on  earth  do  you  mean  ?  "  And  now  his  voice 
was  loud,  so  loud  that  someone  with  quick  ears 
for  that  voice  above  all  others,  heard  it,  and 
suddenly  a  door  opened  and  a  pretty  dark 
girl,  a  vision  in  a  bewitching  cotton  frock 
was  standing  staring  at  him. 

"  Eddy !  My  own  blessed  boy !  What  on 
earth  has  brought  you  here  ?  ' 

"  But  good  God  !  "  he  said.  '  What  does 
it  mean  ?  This  wire.  .  .  ." 

He  tore  a  crumpled  bit  of  paper  from  his 
pocket  and  thrust  it  into  her  hand.  As  she 
read  it,  she  gave  a  cry,  and  the  next  instant 
had  flung  her  arms  round  his  neck.  The  butler 
discreetly  vanished  into  the  drawing-room. 


A  WOMAN'S  REASON  59 

"  Oh  !  you  poor  old  darling.  What  a  vile, 
wicked  thing  to  do  !  What  devil  can  have 
sent  you  this  ?  ' 

Very  tenderly  he  drew  her  close. 

"  My  God,  what  I  have  gone  through ! "  he 
muttered,  thickly. 

Soft  hands  drew  his  head  down  and  warm 
lips  met  his  own. 

"  Eddy  !  "  Lady  Edmonton  and  her  hus- 
band came  quickly  into  the  hall.  "  What 
on  earth  has  happened  ?  Saunders  told  us 
you  were  here." 

The  girl,  before  he  could  speak,  held  the 
wire  up  to  her  parent's  amazed  eyes.  "  Did 
you  ever  dream  of  anything  quite  so  vile  as  to 
play  a  practical  joke  like  that  ?  "  she  cried, 
anger  blazing  in  her  eyes. 

Sir  George  read  it  and  handed  it  to  his  wife, 
then  he  grasped  his  future  son-in-law's  hand. 

"  My  dear  chap,"  he  said,  "  what  you  must 
have  gone  through.  But,  thank  God,  it  was 
a  hoax.  It's  absolutely  unpardonable — and 
I'll  have  it  looked  into  at  once.  ..." 

Lady  Edmonton  kissed  Edward  affection- 
ately ;  never  a  woman  of  many  words,  indigna- 
tion for  the  moment  robbed  her  of  speech. 

"  Come  in  at  once  and  get  a  stiff  brandy  into 
you,  my  dear  fellow,"  said  the  elder  man, 
and  took  him  by  the  arm. 

Edward,  dazed  with  the  wonder  and  joy 
of  finding  his  girl  alive  and  well,  and  not  as  he 
had  thought  at  death's  door,  or  more  probably, 
already  gone  from  his  life,  followed  in  silence. 


60  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  You'll  see  about  a  room,  my  dear,"  went 
on  Sir  George  to  his  wife.  "  Aileen,  come 
along  and  minister  to  his  immediate  wants. 
It's  an  ill  wind  that  blows  no  one  good,  since 
it's  brought  you  here,  my  dear  chap.  There 
are  one  or  two  people  staying  ;  you  know  'em, 
I  think,  Robert  Vincent,  Dion  Lovell  and  his 
wife,  the  author,  you  know.  ..."  He  chatted 
amiably  as  he  conducted  Edward  into  the 
large  room.  Edward  sat  down  heavily  in  a 
chair  by  the  table. 

"  Hallo,  Denham,  glad  to  see  you,"  a  cheery 
voice  called  to  him  through  the  window.  He 
looked  across  and  saw  a  young  man,  in  spotless 
flannels  grinning  at  him. 

"  How  are  you,  Vincent  ?  "  His  tone  was 
not  cordial  for  he  had  never  cared  for  the  man 
and  was  surprised  to  see  him  there.  Then 
he  drank  the  brandy  and  soda  his  host  poured 
out  for  him  and  pufled  himself  together. 

"  What  does  it  mean  ?  "  he  said  abruptly 
to  Aileen.  She  pointed  across  to  the  sideboard 
on  which  cold  meats  were  spread. 

"  Dear  old  boy,  eat  something  first.  I  don't 
suppose  you've  touched  a  morsel  since  you 
left  Boulogne.  How's  Jack  ?  ' 

"  Splendid,  getting  quite  fit." 

"  And  quite  safe  ?  "  she  went  on,  helping 
him  to  something  from  a  dish.  "  No  sign  of 
Sullivan's  gang  ?  '  For  to  her  alone  had 
Edward  confided  his  troubles. 

He  swallowed  a  mouthful  and  stared  at 
her.  With  her  words  came  a  sudden  horrible 


A  WOMAN'S  REASON  61 

thought.  Almost  impossible  of  credence,  but 
undoubtedly  the  solution  of  that  wire. 

Sir  George  rose.  '  Well,  I  daresay  you'll 
get  on  quite  well  without  me,"  he  said,  "  and 
I  must  telephone  to  the  post  office  and  find 
out  about  this  infernal  wire."  He  left  the 
room,  and  Vincent  with  another  glance  through 
the  window  strolled  off. 

"  See  you  later  sometime,"  he  said,  with  a 
laugh. 

They  were  alone.  .  .  . 

Edward  turned  to  the  girl  beside  him  and 
she  was  horrified  at  the  expression  on  his  face. 

'  What  is  it,  dear  old  thing  ?  ' 

"  That  wire,"  he  said,  "  it  must  have  been 
sent  by  someone  who  wanted  to  get  me  away 
from  Jack,  and  by  God,  they've  done  it  I 
When  is  the  next  train  to  London  ?  >; 

"Eddy! "  she  sprang  to  her  feet,  pale  to  the 
lips. 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  "  it's  true  !  I  must  get  back 
at  once  and  catch  the  evening  boat  across. 
Unless  I'm  too  late,"  he  added,  with  a  bitterness 
that  went  to  her  heart.  She,  and  only  she, 
knew  how  he  loved  that  brother. 

"I'm  afraid  you're  right,"  she  said.  "  One 
of  the  gang,  Eddy." 

"  One  of  the  gang,"  he  repeated  grimly. 
He  looked  at  the  wire  again.  "  Sent  oft  from 
Canterbury ;  they  would  choose  a  big  town 
of  course,  and  any  way  it's  your  postal  town." 

Aileen  glanced  at  the  clock.  "  There's  a 
train  at  seven,"  she  said.  "I'll  drive  you 


62  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

to  the  station  myself,  and  we  must  leave  here 
in  twenty  minutes.  Try  not  to  worry,  dear, 
they  can't  do  much  in  twenty-four  hours." 

He  said  nothing  ;  he  would  not  tell  her  that 
unscrupulous  and  desperate  blackguards  such 
as  they  could  do  many  things  in  far  less  time 
than  that. 

"I'll  make  an  excuse  to  mother,  and  you'll 
have  to  tell  father  all  about  it,"  went  on  the 
girl.  "  In  fact,  I  think  it  a  wise  thing  to  do, 
he's  such  a  sensible  old  dear." 

The  wire,  it  appeared,  had  been  handed  in 
by  a  man.  The  post  office  authorities  had  not 
taken  particular  notice,  so  many  people  handed 
wires  over  the  counter.  "  But  I'll  put  the 
police  on  to  it,"  said  Sir  George,  angrily. 

"  No,  don't  do  that,"  said  Edward,  and  then 
he  told  him  why. 

The  elder  man  listened  incredulous,  amazed. 
"  Of  course,"  he  said,  when  he  could  bring 
himself  to  believe  that  it  was  true  and  not 
the  hallucinations  of  an  overwrought  brain. 
"  Of  course,  I'll  not  breathe  a  word  of  this 
to  anyone.  And  if  you  want  my  help  at  any 
time  you  can  count  on  me,  my  boy.  But  if 
you'll  be  advised  by  me,"  he  went  on,  "  you'll 
take  that  reckless  brother  of  yours  to  old 
Watman's  nursing  home.  I  think  he's  got 
one  in  some  out-of-the-world  part  of  Cornwall, 
hasn't  he  ?  And  chain  him  up,  you'll  have  no 
peace  unless  you  do.  And  now  you  must  be 
off.  Good-bye,  and  God  grant  you  find  him 
safe." 


A  WOMAN'S  REASON  63 

Edward  Denham  found  himself  at  last  on 
the  platform,  and  in  the  distance  came  the 
roar  of  the  train. 

"  Send  me  a  wire  as  soon  as  you  can."  The 
girl's  arms  were  about  him.  "  I  am  sure — I 
know  it  will  be  all  right,  you  are  far  too  good, 
old  darling,  for  anything  like  that  to  happen. 
And  Eddy,"  she  went  on,  a  flush  suddenly 
dyeing  her  cheeks,  "  when  you  are  ready,  tell 
me.  I've  had  my  fling  and  been  hateful  to 
you.  I've  come  to  my  senses,  and  I  find  that 
there  is  only  one  thing  in  all  the  world  I  want 
now,  and  that  is  you,  dear  old  thing." 

'  Thank  you,  my  dear,  for  that."  He  kissed 
her  tenderly.  "  God  bless  you.  When  all 
the  risk  and  danger  is  over  I'll  come  for  you." 

Another  kiss,  a  look  of  brave  encouragement, 
and  he  was  in  his  seat,  and  the  train  steamed 
slowly  on  its  way.  Would  he  be  in  time,  or 
would  he  not  ?  That  was  all  that  mattered. 


"  Shut  the  door,  boy,"  said  Molly,  "  there's 
something  I  want  to  get  off  my  chest,  and  I 
don't  want  it  overheard." 

Jack  complied  and  came  back  to  where  she 
was  standing.  "  What  on  earth  has  brought 
you  here,  and  how  did  you  know  I  was  here  ?  " 

"  Oh,  cut  all  that,"  said  she.  "  Alf  followed 
you  across,  he'd  been  watching  for  days  outside 
your  flat.  I'm  here  to  warn  you.  They're 
after  you,  Gaston  is,  and  he's  got  a  Maxim 
silencer  on  his  gun." 


64  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  That's  very  thoughtful  of  him,  I'm  sure," 
said  Jack.  "  Won't  you  sit  down  ?  ' 

"  Oh  !  damn  your  fine  manners.  Can't  you 
see  I'm  in  earnest  ?  You're  in  danger." 

"  Well,  and  I  should  think  you  are  the  last 
person  to  tell  me  that,  considering  what  you 
must  think  6f  me,"  said  Jack. 

"  Get  orf  it  !  "  snapped  Molly.  "  As  if  I 
bother  about  things  like  that — I'm  a  woman." 

"  And  a  very  pretty  one  too,  Molly.  Have 
a  smoke  ?  ' 

She  laughed.  "  Oh  !  boy,  boy,  you're 
nothing  but  a  fool.  Look  here — this  hotel's 
no  place  for  you,  lots  of  people  come  in  and 
out.  Gaston  might  come  any  minute  and  just 
plug  a  hole  in  you — now  your  brother's  gone." 

"  Do  they  know  that  ?  "  demanded  Jack, 
serious  at  last. 

"  Of  course,  you  silly  mutt.  That  wire  was 
a  hoax.  Bob  sent  it.  Never  mind  where 
from,  or  how  he  knows.  I'm  not  giving  any- 
thing away.  Gaston  came  on  the  boat  this 
morning.  I  came  last  night  but  couldn't  get 
at  you,  they  don't  know  I'm  here.  You've 
got  to  get  away  to  England,  and  by  to-night's 
boat." 

Jack's  face  went  white.  "  The  blackguardly 
swine!"  he  said.  "Eddy  was  going  through 
hell  over  that  wire." 

"  He'll  go  through  worse  if  you  don't  do 
what  I  tell  you,"  said  the  girl. 

He  turned  and  looked  at  her.  "  What  are 
you  doing  this  for  ?  "  he  demanded. 


A  WOMAN'S  REASON  65 

"Oh,  you  man  !  "  said  she.  "As  if  you'd 
understand.  It's  just  a  woman's  reason,  that's 
all." 

Jack  looked  at  her  steadily. 

'  You  are  doing  this  for  me,"  he  said,  "  and 
yet  you  must  still  believe  that  I  broke  my 
word  and  gave  you  away." 

For  the  first  time  Molly's  eyes  sought  the 
floor. 

'  Well,"  she  said,  "  and  didn't  you  ?  " 

"No,"  he  replied  gravely.  "  When  I  was 
rescued  the  next  morning,  I  was  delirious, 
and  in  my  ravings  gave  part  of  the  truth  away. 
They  guessed  the  rest,  and  put  the  police  on  to 
you." 

Molly  gasped  and  stared  at  him.  "  Is  this 
true,  boy  ?  ' 

"  Why  should  I  trouble  to  lie  to  you  ?  Of 
course  it  is  true.  You  see,  Jim  Sullivan  over- 
stepped the  mark  when  he  broke  in  my  rib 
with  his  boot,  and  left  me  out  in  the  wet  and  cold 
that  night.  Most  men  would  have  died." 

Molly's  eyes  never  left  his  face,  and  now  her 
face  went  suddenly  white.  "  He  did  that  ?  " 
she  cried,  and  was  silent  for  a  moment,  as 
though  thinking  deeply,  thoughts  that  had 
horror  in  them.  Then  she  made  up  her  mind. 

"  Is  there  anywhere  you  can  go,  now,  out 
of  this  town  ?  '  she  asked.  "  You've  got 
to  get  away  at  once.  And  you  mustn't  cross 
to  England  to-night.  Do  you  see  ?  '; 

"  No,  I  don't  see  at  all,"  was  the  reply. 
"  But  we  can  get  away  from  here  if  you  say  so. 


£ 


66  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

We'll  go  out  to  Wimereux  by  train  and  enjoy 
ourselves.  I'll  leave  my  things  here,  and  tell 
the  manager  Eddy  and  I  will  be  back  in  a  day 
or  so.  Sit  down  and  have  a  smoke,  kid,  while 
I  get  my  passport  and  so  on." 

Later  the  two  passed  out  of  the  hotel. 

Jack,  amazed  at  this  girl's  goodness  of 
heart,  found  little  chance  for  private  talk  in 
the  tram,  for  it  was  full — other  people  sat  at 
their  table  during  the  meal.  But  later  in  the 
Casino  they  danced  and  she  talked  to  him 
of  her  life,  or  part  of  it,  and  seemed  amazingly 
happy  in  his  company.  At  last  he  said  they  must 
go  back,  and  then  she  begged  him  not  to  hurry, 
but  to  walk  back  along  the  cliffs.  Her  desire 
seemed  to  be  to  delay  his  return  as  much  as 
possible,  and  again  she  told  him  not  to  cross 
that  night.  He  wondered,  but  gave  way. 
Together  they  set  out  to  walk  the  long  way 
back  along  the  high,  grass  grown  cliffs. 

The  girl  clung  to  his  arm  and  for  the  most 
part  they  walked  in  silence.  Then,  of  a  sudden, 
from  behind  a  high  tussock  there  rose  the 
figure  of  a  man,  a  man  he  recognised  instantly. 
It  was  Cast  on,  the  second  in  command  of 
Sullivan's  gang.  There  was  no  time  for  thought. 
He  saw  the  man's  hand  go  into  his  breast 
pocket,  his  own  followed  suit,  but  half  a  second 
later.  There  was  a  puff  of  smoke  but  no 
sound,  and  something  grazed  his  ear.  The 
next  instant  a  sharp  report  rang  out  and 
Gaston  flung  up  his  hands. 

Jack  said  nothing  as  he  stood  looking  down 


A  WOMAN'S  REASON  67 

at  the  dead  man.  He  heard  a  stifled  sob 
behind  him,  but  took  no  notice. 

"I'm  sorry  I  had  to  kill  your  friend,"  he 
said,  in  quiet  even  tones,  "'  but  it  certainly 
is  not  murder."  He  bent  down  and  looked  at 
the  dead  man,  and  then  turned  to  face  the  girl. 

"  Before  I  leave  you,  I  would  like  to  tell 
you,"  he  said,  still  in  that  quiet  voice,  "  that 
whatever  the  knowledge  may  be  worth  to  you, 
you  have  led  a  perfectly  innocent  man  into 
your  very  well  thought  out  trap.  I  told  you 
I  never  gave  you  away,  and  more  than  that, 
since  then  I  have  refused  to  give  any  description 
of  your  friends  to  the  police,  and  that  is  why 
you  have  been  able  to  come  out  here  in  safety. 
I  think  there  is  nothing  more  to  be  said." 

The  girl  listened,  her  face  like  chalk,  horror 
in  her  eyes. 

"Oh,  boy,  boy !  "  she  cried,  trying  to 
catch  at  his  hand,  but  he  drew  away  from  her 
touch.  "  You  don't  think  I  led  you  into  this 
trap  ?  Surely  you  don't  think  that  ?  " 

Jack  laughed  harshly.  "  I  don't  think  any- 
thing," he  replied,  "  the  result  speaks  for 
itself.  Well,  anyway,  you  appear  to  have 
enjoyed  yourself  with  me,  and  I'm  glad  I  could 
offer  you  some  amusement.  The  anticipation 
of  this  grand  finale  must  certainly  have  added 
spice  to  it  all.  Well,  I  wish  you  joy  of  the 
future.  You  can  keep  your  Jim  Sullivan," 
he  went  on  dryly,  "  as  long  as  you  can.  For 
after  this  I'm  bound  by  no  promise,  and  if  I 
live,  this  world  will  not  be  a  pleasant  place 


68  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

for  any  of  you.  You  had  better  get  away 
from  this,"  he  pointed  to  the  dead  man, 
"if  you  value  your  neck."  He  turned  away, 
but  a  scream  stopped  him. 

"  Oh  !  for  God's  sake,  stop — I  didn't  know — 
j » 

Jack  laughed.  "  Take  my  tip  and  be  off," 
he  said. 

"No,  no  !  "  cried  Molly,  stretching  out  her 
arms.  "  Don't  go  to  England,  boy,  for  God's 
sake  don't  go." 

"  Good  Lord  !  "  he  said,  with  another  laugh. 
"  Do  you  think  I  would  take  your  advice 
after  this  ?  Thanks — I'm  not  quite  the  silly 
fool  you  take  me  for.  Don't  try  to  come  near 
me  or  to  speak  to  me.  If  you  do,  I'll  give  you 
in  charge." 

He  heard  her  sobbing  helplessly,  and  turned 
on  his  heel.  It  was  a  long  way  back,  and  later, 
when  he  recalled  that  walk  he  realised  that  his 
mind  must  have  been  a  complete  blank,  for  he 
remembered  not  an  inch  of  the  way.  That  a 
woman  could  have  done  this  thing !  The 
horror  of  it  !  There  was  one  thing  only  to  be 
done,  to  get  back  to  England  and  to  Eddy. 

He  saw  her  again  on  the  evening  boat,  but 
took  no  notice,  nor  did  she  appear  to  see  him. 
A  drizzling  rain  was  falling  as  they  landed  at 
Folkestone.  He  crossed  the  gangway,  and 
stepped  aside  out  of  the  crowd,  for  the  woman 
to  pass.  As  he  did  so,  he  felt  a  hand  on  his 
shoulder,  turned  quickly  and  under  the  lamp 
saw  two  men  beside  him,  in  bowler  hats. 


A  WOMAN'S  REASON  69 

"  All  right,"  said  a  high-pitched  voice. 
"  Take  it  quietly,  my  man." 

He  started  back  and  the  next  instant  there 
was  a  sharp  click,  and  another,  and  his  wrists 
were  locked  together. 

Some  of  the  crowd  stopped  and  stared. 

"  Look  here,"  called  Jack,  in  a  loud  voice, 
as  an  official  passed,  "  these  men " 

A  hand  was  placed  over  his  mouth,  the 
official  came  up. 

'  What's  all  this  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Quite  all  right,"  said  the  taller  of  the  men, 
and  pulled  out  a  card  and  a  piece  of  blue  paper. 
"  Scotland  Yard,"  he  said. 

The  official  glanced  at  the  card  and  the 
paper.  "  I  see,"  he  said,  with  a  grin.  "  Better 
wait  for  the  crowd  to  get  on,"  and  he  passed  on. 

They  took  Jack  along  the  platform  a  few 
steps  and  waited.  He  recognised  the  men,  of 
course.  One  was  the  fellow  called  Mike,  with 
the  twisted  mouth,  the  other  was  the  ferret- 
faced  Alf.  He  understood  perfectly.  If 
Gaston  failed,  they  had  this  in  store  for  him. 
But  Molly  had  at  the  last  begged  him  not 
to  go.  Why  ?  Ah,  well,  he  gave  up  thinking. 
They  had  him  safe  enough.  No  one  would 
trouble  to  look  into  the  forged  warrant  or 
printed  card.  When  they  saw  two  plain  clothes 
men  (it  was  extraordinary  how  respectable 
they  looked  with  their  false  moustaches)  with 
a  handcuffed  prisoner  between  them,  no  ques- 
tions would  be  asked.  And  they  wouldn't 
give  him  an  opportunity  to  speak  even  if  it 


70  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

would  be  of  any  use,  which  it  would  not.  He 
was  fairly  caught  this  time.  That  was  all 
there  was  about  it.  Presently  one  of  them 
took  his  arm  and  they  moved  on.  His  pass- 
ports were  perfunctorily  looked  at,  and  the 
official  grinned. 

"  Extradition  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  No,"  said  Mike.  "  Hopped  over  himself 
and  walked  into  us.  Good  night." 

They  passed  on  and  took  their  seats  in  a 
third  class  carriage.  He  saw  nothing  of  Molly. 
The  blinds  were  drawn  down,  and  the  door 
into  the  corridor  shut. 

"Do  you  mind  opening  the  window,  Alf? 
It's  damned  hot,"  said  Jack. 

Whatever  he  felt,  those  men  shouldn't  know 
it.  As  a  matter  of  fact  he  knew  he  was  going 
to  his  death. 

"  Anything  to  oblige  a  pal,"  said  the  little 
man  with  a  grin. 

As  the  train  moved  off,  Mike  who  sat 
beside  him,  tapped  his  arm.  "  I  suppose  you 
know  what's  coming  to  you  ?  "  he  said. 

"  I  think  I  have  a  fair  amount  of  intelli- 
gence," was  the  reply,  "  which  is  more  than  you 
have,  or  you  wouldn't  be  mixed  up  in  a  thing 
of  this  sort.  I  can  almost  guess." 

"  I  think  not,"  retorted  Alf.  "  You  haven't 
a  notion  of  how  bad  it's  going  to  be,  so  I'm 
just  going  to  tell  you.  At  Victoria  Station 
Jim  Sullivan  will  meet  us." 

"  Awfully  polite  of  him,"  said  Jack. 

"  And  his  car  will  be  waiting,"  went  on  the 


A  WOMAN'S  REASON  71 

other  slowly.      "  Into  that  you'll  get,  and  be 
driven  to  our  house  in  Bar " 

"  Shut  up,  you  fool,"  growled  Alf. 

"  Dead  men  tell  no  tales,"  retorted  the  other. 

"  Well,  he  isn't  dead  yet,  so  keep  your 
mouth  shut  on  names." 

"  All  right,  'ave  it  your  own  way.  Well, 
to  continue  the  next  chapter.  In  that  house 
there's  a  place  where  you'll  be  put,  and  no 
one  any  the  wiser.  In  there  you'll  die,  not 
quickly,  but  slowly,  and  while  you're  dying 
you'll  wish  yourself  dead  many  a  time." 

"Do  you  mind  if  I  smoke?"  said  Jack. 
"  I  think  I  can  manage,  though  I  had  no  idea 
jewellery  of  this  kind  was  so  awkward  and 
uncomfortable.  However,  of  course,  I  expect 
you  know  all  about  that  Alf,  old  man." 
'  No,  I  don't,"  growled  Alf. 

"  Well,  you  will  soon,  and  if  I'm  any  kind 
of  a  prophet,  it  will  be  remarkably  soon  too, 
and  I  shall  be  there  to  see  you." 

"  You  don't  seem  to  realise,  my  lad,  that 
you're  as  good  as  dead  already,"  said  Alf. 

"  Oh,  no,  I'm  not,"  he  replied  airily.  "  Far 
from  it,  I'm  frightfully  difficult  to  kill,  as  your 
Jim  knows,  who  tried  it,  and  also  friend  Gaston 
who  is  a  rotten  bad  shot." 

"  Wot's  that  ?  '      Alf  leant  forward. 

"  Quite  a  simple  affair.  He  shot  first,"  said 
Jack,  "  and  missed.  I  shot  next — and — er — 
missed  too.  After  that  we  both  concluded 
it  was  too  hot  for  each  other  and  went  our 
several  ways." 


72  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  What  a  blinking  fool  !  "  said  Alf,  slowly. 
And  Mike  swore. 

"  It  was  a  fair  fight,"  said  Jack,  "  and  as 
for  your  girl — she  played  her  part  well,  splen- 
didly— she  ought  to  have  gone  on  the  stage 
instead  of  going  to  penal  servitude  as  she  will." 

'  You    shut    your    mouth,"    growled    Alf, 
angrily. 

'  Then  get  my  cigarette  case  out  and  give 
me  one,  and  I'll  oblige,"  was  the  reply.  "  And 
take  one  yourself,  Alf,  old  man,  and  you  too, 
Mike  of  the  pretty  face." 

Three  cigarettes  were  lit. 

"  And  so  you  are  going  to  torture  me,  are 
you — why  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"  It's  Jim  Sullivan's  idea,  not  mine,"  said 
Mike.  "  He  thinks  out  everything,  and  we 
just  do  what  he  tells  us." 

"  Wonderfully  brainy  fellow  is  Jim.  So  he 
thought  this  out,  all  by  himself,"  mused  Jack. 
"It's  a  pity  such  remarkable  talents  should 
be  wasted,  and  so  fine  a  figure  of  a  man  be 
chucked  into  hell  at  the  end  of  a  rope.  I'll 
try  and  reason  with  Jim  when  we  meet." 

Both  men  laughed. 

"Well,  he  said  you  were  a  brave  chap," 
said  Mike,  with  grudging  admiration.  "  And 
by  God,  he's  right.  If  it  hadn't  been  that  you 
broke  your  blasted  word  and  gave  us  away,  I 
wouldn't  have  touched  this  job." 

"  I  didn't,  old  fellow,"  said  Jack. 

"  Don't  lie — it  won't  help  you,"  snarled  Alf. 
"  Didn't  the  cussed  cops  round  up  No.  18  ?  " 


A  WOMAN'S  REASON  73 

"  Admitted,  and  found  the  birds  flown, 
worse  luck,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Well,  no  one  knew  but  you." 

"  Right  again.  Really,  I'm  beginning  to 
think  you  have  a  grain  of  intelligence  after  all. 
But  I  assure  you,  old  fellow,  I  didn't  give  the 
show  away  of  my  own  free  will." 

"  Nah  !  I  s'pose  it  was  dragged  out  of  you 
by  red  hot  pincers,  which  of  course  they  uses 
in  the  p'lice  station." 

"  Wrong  this  time — all  wrong.  I  was  raving 
in  delirium,  brought  on  by  what  dear  old  Jim 
did  to  me — and  let  some  of  it  out.  Fact,  I 
assure  you." 

"  You  tell  that  to  the  angels,  who  you'll 
be  seeing  pretty  soon,"  sneered  Mike.  '  You 
don't  expect  us  to  believe  it,  do  you  ?  " 

"Well,  to  be  quite  frank,  I  don't.  It 
would  have  put  me  all  out  of  my  reckoning 
if  you  had,  for  I  look  upon  you  both  as  the 
two  biggest  fools  God  ever  made.  No,  don't 
knock  me  about,  Alf,  I  can't  hit  you  back, 
and  even  you  know  better  than  to  do  that. 
You're  not  as  bad  as  Jim  Sullivan,  for  all  your 
talk." 

Alf  lowered  his  clenched  fist  and  looked 
away. 

"  And  now  if  you  don't  mind  I'm  going  to 
sleep.  I  haven't  got  quite  fit  yet,  and  I'm 
tired  of  looking  at  your  face,  Mike." 

He  closed  his  eyes  and  allowed  himself  to 
give  way  to  abject  despair.  Molly,  after  all, 
had  told  him  not  to  go.  Poor  Molly,  what 


74  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

unaccountable  things  women  were.  And  what 
a  pity  he  had  not  taken  her  advice.  After  all 
he  might  have  guessed  she  spoke  the  truth 
then.  Well,  it  was  all  over,  and  now  he  would 
never  meet  his  dream  woman,  never  see  dear 
old,  cautious,  grave  faced  Eddy  again. 

Death  !  It  was  not  very  pleasant  to  con- 
template, especially  the  particular  kind  of 
death  that  fiend  Sullivan  had  in  store  for  him. 
What  did  it  mean  exactly  ?  Torture  of  some 
kind.  Starvation  perhaps  ?  How  long  did 
that  take  ?  Or  was  it  something  worse  ? 
Something  done  with  knives  or  pincers  or  ... 
He  suddenly  remembered  with  horrible  vivid- 
ness all  the  stories  of  mediaeval  torture  he  had 
read  and  gloated  over  as  a  boy,  and  wondered 
if  it  were  still  possible  for  such  things  to  be 
done  in  these  civilised  days.  Well,  given  the 
opportunity,  which  in  other  words  meant 
the  place,  it  most  certainly  could  be  done,  and 
the  fellow  Alf  had  said  they  had  such  a  place, 
probably  underground,  where  nothing  could 
be  heard.  Yes,  most  certainly  it  could  be 
done.  A  cold  sweat  broke  out  on  his  forehead. 
Whatever  happened,  when  they  got  out  at 
Victoria  he  must  make  a  last  desperate  effort 
to  save  himself.  If  he  shouted  aloud  his 
plight  as  they  dragged  him  along  the  platform 
surely  someone  out  of  the  crowds  there  would 
believe  him  and  not  attribute  it  to  the  ravings 
of  possibly  an  escaped  and  recaptured  lunatic  ? 
With  the  thought  came  a  sudden  desperate 
hope,  and  he  sat  forward,  his  eyes  sparkling. 


A  WOMAN'S  REASON  75 

The   two   men,   watching  him,   guessed   what 
was  in  his  mind.     Mike  glanced  at  his  watch. 

"  In  'alf  an  hour  we  shall  be  there.  Let's 
'ave  a  pull  at  the  flask,  man." 

Alf  dived  into  his  pocket  and  drew  out  a 
rather  large  metal  flask.  Then  he  glanced  at 
Jack. 

"  Like  a  pick-me-up,  young  fellow  ?  '  he 
asked.  "  You  look  a  bit  green  about  the  gills." 

Jack,  his  mind  still  on  that  one  chance, 
nodded  eagerly.  It  would  certainly  help  to 
steady  his  nerves  and  he  was  horribly  thirsty. 
He  took  the  flask  in  his  chained  hands  and 
swallowed  a  large  mouthful.  The  next  instant 
he  had  dropped  the  flask  on  the  floor  and 
sprung  to  his  feet  with  an  oath. 

"  Curse  you  !  What  have  you  given  me  ?  ' 

With  a  laugh  Alf  stretched  out  an  arm  and 
pushed  him  back  on  to  his  seat. 

"  You  don't  suppose  we're  going  to  have 
any  trouble  from  you  when  we  land,  do  you  ?  ' 
he  said.  "  Talk  about  us  being  fools,  s'welp 
me,  I  think  you're  the  prize  idiot  of  the  com- 
pany. There,  keep  quiet,  my  lad,  it  ain't 
poison  and  it  won't  'urt  you,  only  make  you 
a  bit  drowsy-like.  But  don't  you  worry  any, 
we'll  help  you  along  and  no  one  11  know  but 
what  you're  drunk." 

Mike  had  recovered  the  flask  and  screwed 
down  the  lid  on  what  contents  remained. 

"  Think  it's  enough,"  he  asked  his  com- 
panion, "  or  shall  we  give  'im  one  more  ?  ' 

"  Lord,  no  !     Look  at  'im,"  replied  Alf  with 


76  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

a  laugh.  For  Jack,  after  his  sudden  outburst 
of  anger  at  the  trick  that  had  been  played 
upon  him,  had  fallen  back  into  his  seat  at  Alf 's 
push  and  now  leant  with  his  head  lolling  help- 
lessly against  the  cushions,  his  eyes  closed, 
while  gradually  a  sensation  of  numbness  crept 
up  his  legs  and  arms  and  he  was  only  faintly 
conscious  of  the  murmur  of  voices  as  the  two 
men  spoke.  The  drug,  a  potent  one,  was 
acting  quickly.  Very  soon  he  lost  consciousness 
in  heavy  sleep,  and  Alf,  leaning  forward  and 
peering  into  his  face,  laughed  once  more. 

"  He'll  do,"  he  said,  laconically. 

Half  an  hour  later  the  train  drew  slowly 
into  Victoria  Station.  Alf,  standing  by  the 
window,  peered  eagerly  out  on  to  the  platform. 

"  Don't  see  Jim  yet,"  he  muttered.  "  Rouse 
him  up,  Mike." 

The  other  did  as  he  was  bid.  He  shook 
Jack  roughly  by  the  shoulder  and  administered 
a  sharp  kick  on  one  of  his  shins.  With  a 
choking  gasp  at  the  pain  Jack  opened  heavy 
lids  and  was  dragged  to  his  feet  by  strong 
hands  till  he  stood  swaying  dizzily.  The 
train  stopped. 

"  Come  on  quick,  I  don't  see  Jim  anywhere," 
said  Alf,  and,  each  taking  one  of  Jack's  arms, 
they  dragged  him  out  into  the  corridor  which 
was  already  well  blocked  with  moving 
passengers.  He  felt  sick  and  dazed  and  his 
head  ached  and  throbbed  hideously.  He  was 
only  half  conscious  of  his  surroundings,  was 
faintly  aware  of  being  roughly  jostled,  of  half 


A  WOMAN'S   REASON  77 

falling  and  being  dragged  up,  and  then  of  a 
breath  of  fresh  air  on  his  face.  Someone 
literally  lifted  him  on  to  the  platform  and  he 
realised  where  he  was.  This  was  Victoria 
Station  and  these  men  were  taking  him  to  a 
horrible  death.  He  opened  his  mouth  and  a 
hand  was  clapped  over  it,  stifling  the  cry  that 
rose  to  his  lips. 

"  Come  on  !  Carry  him  if  he  hangs  back," 
said  Alf  gruffly. 

They  were  in  the  middle  of  a  hurrying  crowd  ; 
a  porter,  carrying  a  bag,  turned  his  head  and 
stared. 

"  What's  wrong  ?  "  he  said.     "  Sea-sick  ?  ' 
And  then  saw  the  handcuffs.     "  Ah  !     I  see," 
and  pushed  his  way  on.     Other  people  stared. 

"Where  the  hell's  Jim?'  muttered  Alf, 
as  he  dragged  his  victim  on.  Jack  was  helpless. 
In  the  cool  night  air  the  drug  seemed  to  be 
taking  new  effect,  his  legs  dragged  under  him, 
the  will  and  power  to  call  out  left  him.  And 
then  a  woman  pushed  against  them  and  he 
felt  a  hand  in  his  pocket.  She  said  something 
to  the  two  men  and  hurried  on.  It  was  only 
later  that  the  words  she  said  came  back  to 
Jack  and  the  meaning  of  them. 

"  Captain  Denham  on  the  platform  !  Drop 
him  and  run  !  '' 

And  then  Jack  was  sprawling  face  down 
on  the  pavement  and  someone  coming  behind 
nearly  fell  over  him. 

"  Here  porter,  there's  a  man  ill  or  drunk 
or  something,"  said  a  crisp  voice.  There  was 


78  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

a  murmur  of  other  voices — hands  lifted  him. 
He  opened  his  eyes  and  found  a  crowd  round 
him — and  then  the  crowd  was  roughly  parted 
and  a  tall  man  forced  his  way  through  and 
the  next  instant  had  an  arm  about  him. 

"  It's  all  right  thanks,"  said  a  well-known 
voice,  "  I  know  him  and  will  see  to  him. 
Harper,  lend  me  a  hand  and  we'll  get  him  into 
a  taxi  at  once.  It's  all  right,  old  man,  you're 
quite  safe." 

The  crowd  disappeared.  He  felt  himself 
lifted  up  bodily  and  carried  in  strong  arms. 
.  .  .  Became  aware  that  an  official  was 
questioning.  .  .  .  Heard  a  sharp  retort  and 
saw  Harper — yes,  it  was  Harper  sure  enough, 
though  how  he  came  to  be  there  was  beyond 
him — give  the  official  a  card  which  seemed 
to  satisfy  him.  The  next  thing  he  knew  was 
that  he  was  sitting  on  a  soft  cushioned  seat  ; 
Eddy's  arm  was  round  him  and  his  head 
resting  on  Eddy's  shoulder.  They  were  moving, 
and  he  heard  Harper  speaking  again. 

"  Drugged ;  getting  better  now.  At  the 
worst  he'll  have  a  thick  head  to-morrow,  so 
don't  worry." 

"  You  saw  nothing  of  those  brutes  did 
you,  Harper  ?  ' 

"  Not  a  sign,  got  away  easy  in  that  crowd, 
probably  had  a  car  waiting.  Besides  I  haven't 
the  pleasure  of  knowing  them,  not  even  a 
blinking  description,  thanks  to  your  brother's 
beautiful  reticence." 

"  Well,    get    these    infernal    things    off   his 


A  WOMAN'S  REASON  79 

wrists  if  you  have  a  key."     Edward  Denham 
spoke  sharply. 

"  Quite  a  good  stunt  that,"  said  the  detective 
with  a  chuckle.  "  Passed  themselves  off  as 
Yard  men,  I  suppose.  Well,  they're  a  pair 
of  bracelets  short  anyhow.  There  .  .  .  how's 
that  ?  '  Jack  felt  hands  at  his  wrists  and 
then  he  was  free.  With  an  effort  he  sat  forward 
and  fumbled  in  his  pockets. 

"  Molly  put  something  inside,"  he  muttered. 
Edward  Denham  pulled  out  a  crumpled  bit 
of  paper  and  Harper  switched  on  an  electric 
torch.  Edward  read  aloud  :  "  You  wouldn't 
listen  to  me,  so  I  cabled  to  your  brother.  I 
shall  tell  Jim  you  must  have  wired  to  him 
yourself,  so  don't  worry  about  me.  If  you 
don't  understand  why  I  have  done  this,  don't 
bother.  It  was  a  woman's  reason." 

'  Yes,  she  wired  me  to  meet  the  boat  train 
to-night,"  said  Edward  slowly.  "  Feeling 
better,  old  man  ?  " 

"Yes,"  replied  Jack  thickly.  "Good  kid, 
Molly.  Poor  Molly." 

'  Think  you'll  change  your  tactics  now  and 
describe    these    precious    friends    of    yours  ?  ' 
inquired  Harper  dryly.   "Or  haven't  you  had 
enough  yet  ?  " 

'  Tell  you  everything,"  said  Jack.  And 
later  back  in  the  old  rooms  in  Lennox  Street, 
he  did. 

"  One  of  their  best  men,  which  means  worst, 
dead,"  commented  Harper.  "  Good  work,  Mr. 
Jack.  And  their  house  somewhere  in  Barnet. 


8o  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

Well,  we'll  get  going  now.  But  you'll  have 
to  go  back  to  France,  Captain  Denham,"  he 
went  on,  "or  the  authorities  over  there  may 
connect  you  and  your  sudden  disappearance 
with  that  body  on  the  cliffs." 

"  We'll  go  to-morrow  and  put  in  another 
week  or  two,"  replied  Edward.  "  I  must 
ring  up  Aileen  first  thing  and  tell  her  Jack  is 
safe  and  all's  well." 

"  Yes,"  observed  Harper  grimly  as  he  rose 
to  go.  "  All's  well  until  the  curtain  rings 
up  on  the  next  act." 

"  That's  about  it,"  said  Jack  Denham, 
gravely. 


CHAPTER     III 

THE   HUNDREDTH   CHANCE 

IT  was  a  hot  day  in  August.  What  little  air 
there  was  came  through  the  open  window 
of  Edward  Denham's  sitting-room  like 
warm  vapour.  Jack  Denham,  yawning  and 
heavy  eyed,  for  he  had  been  at  a  night  club 
and  had  not  returned  until  after  three  in 
the  morning,  stretched  his  arms  and  gasped. 

"  It's  like  a  lethal  chamber,  Eddy."  He 
took  off  his  jacket,  unfastened  his  collar  and 
flung  them  to  the  far  end  of  the  room.  "  I 
can't  stick  clothes,"  he  went  on,  and  collapsed 
on  to  a  sofa.  Edward  Denham  looked  up  from 
the  letter  he  was  reading. 

'  You  look,"  said  he,  "  as  you  deserve  to 
feel.  I  haven't  an  ounce  of  sympathy  for  you. 
I  advised  you  not  to  go  to  that  wretched 
place  last  night,  and  of  course  you  went. 
What  good  the  sea  air  did  for  you  in  Boulogne 
has  all  been  undone  by  these  infernal  night 
clubs." 

'  Well,  when  a  fellow's  life  is  threatened 
as  mine  is,"  grumbled  the  younger  brother, 
"  naturally  one  has  to  try  and  get  all  the 
pleasure  one  can  as  long  as  it  lasts.  Any 


82  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

day  I  might  get  a  knife  in  my  back  or  a  bullet 
in  my  brain.  Jim  Sullivan  and  his  gang  are 
only  waiting  an  opportunity." 

'  That's  why  I'm  sticking  to  you  as  I  am," 
retorted  the  elder  man,  dryly.  "That's  why 
I  go  with  you  to  these  beastly  night  clubs 
which  I  abominate  like  poison.  Therefore  if 
you  won't  consider  yourself,  at  least  you  might 
consider  me  a  little." 

Jack  Denham  flushed  crimson,  scrambled  to 
his  feet  and  laid  a  hand  on  his  brother's  shoulder. 

"  I  say,  old  man,"  he  said  in  deep  contrition, 
"  what  an  unthinkable  blighter  I've  been.  It 
never  occurred  to  me  that  you  hated  it  like 
that.  Why  on  earth  didn't  you  say  so  ? 
You  can't  think  what  sort  of  a  swine  I  feel." 

"  I  thought  you  knew  that  kind  of  thing 
wasn't  in  my  line,"  was  the  reply.  "  But 
never  mind,  read  this  letter  ;  I  think  you'll 
agree  with  me  that  it's  a  way  out  of  our 
difficulties  and  this  infernal  heat."  He  handed 
him  the  letter  which  his  brother  found  was 
an  invitation  to  the  Finlaysons'  house  in 
Perthshire  for  a  month,  or  for  as  long  as  they 
cared  to  stay.  They  were  old  friends  and 
the  shooting  was  good. 

Jack  flung  the  letter  into  the  air  with  a 
whoop  of  joy. 

"  What  priceless  old  dears  !  This  couldn't 
have  come  at  a  better  time.  What  shall  we 
do  ?  Take  them  at  their  word  and  start  off 
in  the  car  to-morrow  ?  " 

"  That's  my  idea,"  was  the  reply.     "  The 


THE  HUNDREDTH  CHANCE        83 

sooner  we  are  out  of  town  the  better.  I 
had  a  long  talk  with  Harper  at  Scotland  Yard 
yesterday.  He  says  that  although  your 
description  of  the  members  of  the  gang  ought 
to  help,  so  far  he  has  located  none  of  them. 
Of  course  the  fact  that  their  meeting-place 
is  somewhere  in  Barnet  narrows  things  down 
a  bit.  But  he  thinks  they  have  separated, 
for,  watch  as  he  will,  he  can  rind  no  trace  of 
them.  My  own  opinion  is  that  they  are  living 
in  different  parts  of  London.  He  thinks  they 
are  still  watching  this  house  and  our  move- 
ments, but  that  the  watcher  has  taken  a  room 
in  one  of  the  many  lodging  houses  in  this  street. 
If  we  can  get  away  from  here  without  being 
seen  we  shall  at  least  have  a  month's  relaxation 
of  mind." 

'  Which  will  do  us  both  good,"  observed 
Jack,  with  a  grimace.  "  I  feel  like  a  hunted 
criminal.  You  see  they  know  by  now  that 
I  killed  Gaston,  though  I  told  those  blighters 
who  had  me  in  the  Folkestone  train  that  I 
missed.  I  saw  in  the  papers  that  the  Boulogne 
police  had  given  up  trying  to  solve  the  mystery 
of  his  death  and  it's  not  likely  any  of  Sullivan's 
gang  will  give  me  away  for  their  own  sakes. 
Molly  knows  they  sent  him  out  to  kill  me 
and  I  believe  she  would  come  forward  with 
her  evidence  if  I  were  arrested  for  his  murder." 

"  You  have  a  great  belief  in  that  girl's 
honour,"  remarked  Edward,  dryly.  "  She 
certainly  did  you  a  good  turn  when  you  were 
first  caught,  and  in  the  second  episode  in 


84  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

sending  me  that  wire.  But  you  must  not 
forget  that  she  is  one  of  them,  and  Jim  Sullivan 
is  her  man." 

"  She's  good  stuff  all  the  same,"  argued 
Jack.  "  But  I  admit  it's  up  to  me  to  look 
out.  Now  they  know  I  shot  Gaston  they'll 
do  their  damnedest  to  get  me.  And,  mark  you, 
Eddy,  the  death  they  have  in  store  for  me 
isn't  a  pretty  one.  That  little  swine,  Alf,  told 
me  they  mean  torture." 

Edward  involuntarily  shuddered. 

"  Don't  talk  about  it,  old  fellow.  It's  not 
likely  to  happen  to  you  in  any  case  if  you 
use  ordinary  common  sense  precautions.  I 
want  you  to  take  it  quietly  to-day  and  get 
to  bed  early  to-night,  and  then  we'll  start 
right  off  to  the  north  to-morrow  morning. 
I  shall  go  round  to  Wardours'  where  Aileen 
and  her  people  are  staying.  She  wants  me 
to  dine  as  she  will  be  all  alone  this  evening." 

"  Good  for  you,  old  man,  but  I'm  afraid 
you  must  scrap  the  brainy  idea  of  my  turning 
in  early.  As  a  matter  of  fact  I  promised  to 
turn  up  again  at  the  Argos  to-night.  Tom 
Wheatley  will  be  there  with  his  girl  and  her 
sister  whom  he  wants  me  to  meet." 

"  You  can't  possibly  go  to  that  beastly  place 
again  to-night,  Jack,"  replied  the  elder  brother, 
shortly.  "  I  can't  be  with  you,  you  know." 

"  Considering  how  you  hate  it,  so  much 
the  better,"  was  the  retort.  Edward  rose  and 
stood  over  the  younger  man,  a  frown  furrowing 
his  brow. 


THE   HUNDREDTH   CHANCE         85 

"  Look  here,  old  man,"  he  said  sternly, 
"  of  course  I  can't  control  your  actions,  I  can 
only  ask  you  not  to  do  certain  things  that  I 
neither  approve  of  nor  consider  safe  under 
the  present  circumstances,  and  it  is  for  you 
to  decide  whether  you  do  as  I  wish  or  not." 

Jack  stretched  himself  full  length  on  the  sofa 
and  grinned  up  into  the  stern  face  above  him. 

"  All  right,  Eddy,  don't  come  the  heavy 
father  over  me,  though  the  part  suits  you  top 
hole  ;  it's  too  hot.  The  fact  is,  old  bean,  I 
hate  to  seem  the  blinking  kind  of  rotter  you 
think  me,  but  I  can't  get  out  of  it.  I  promised 
to  go  and  of  course  I'll  have  to." 

"  The  Argos  happens  to  be  one  of  the  lowest 
of  its  kind  in  London,"  said  Edward. 

"  But  full  of  damned  pretty  girls,  old  soul; 
now  you  can't  deny  that." 

"  I  dislike  the  type,  though  I  admit  their 
looks  up  to  a  point." 

"Oh,  curse  it,  they  can't  all  be  Aileen 
Edmontons,  can  they  ?  "  snapped  Jack  testily. 

"  Unfortunately  for  them  they  can't,"  was 
the  quiet  reply.  "  So  you  mean  to  go  ?  ' 

"  Yes,  I'm  going  all  right,  but  word  of 
honour  I'll  be  back  at  two,  old  son.  Come, 
Eddy,  you're  not  such  a  fool  as  to  think  any 
of  dear  old  Jim's  gang  would  show  their  noses 
there  ?  " 

"  Why  not  ?  "  demanded  the  other.  "  Any 
kind  of  criminal  could  go  to  the  Argos.  In 
fact  from  the  glimpse  I  had  of  most  of  the 
men  there  it  struck  me  that  they  would 


86  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

have  been  more  at  home  in  convict  drab  than 
in  evening  dress." 

"  Why,  you  old  ass,  there  were  no  end  of 
decent  chaps  there." 

"  So  much  the  worse  for  society  then," 
was  the  retort.  "  However,  you  know  my 
wishes,  if  Harper  wasn't  going  out  of  town  I 
would  have  them  enforced.  As  it  is — "  he 
shrugged  his  shoulders  and  turned  to  the  door. 

"  111  be  back  at  two,  old  man,"  said  Jack, 
feeling  rather  ashamed  of  himself,  but  deter- 
mined to  have  his  way  in  this  instance. 


He  had  been  at  the  Argos  Club  half  an  hour 
and  still  saw  no  sign  of  Tom  Wheatley  and  his 
girls.  It  struck  him,  too,  that  there  seemed 
to  be  a  new  crowd  there  that  night,  and  no 
one  so  far  whom  he  knew.  It  was  a  particu- 
larly rowdy  crowd  too,  and  drinks  were  passing 
very  freely.  His  own  pockets  were  consider- 
ably lighter  for  the  entertainment  of  some 
fascinating  ladies  enveloped  in  paint,  gauze, 
and  not  much  else  ;  and  he  was  beginning  to 
be  aware  of  the  fact  that  he  had  had  about 
enough  drink  himself,  and,  after  giving  the 
errant  Tom  another  five  minutes  would,  on 
his  failing  to  appear,  go  home  ;  when,  happening 
to  look  across  to  the  other  side  of  the  room, 
he  saw  a  pair  of  dark  eyes  fixed  upon  his  face 
and  realised  with  a  start  that  the  owner  of 
those  eyes  was  Jim  Sullivan's  girl,  Molly, 
and  that  she  was  trying  to  tell  him  something. 


THE  HUNDREDTH  CHANCE         87 

Now  what  on  earth  could  one  of  Sullivan's 
gang  be  doing  here  ?  And  if  one  how  many 
more  ?  Of  course  there  was  no  danger  ;  no 
one  in  their  senses  would  attempt  to  touch 
him  in  this  crowd,  and  in  any  case  he  must 
speak  to  Molly.  He  started  to  cross  the  room, 
when  he  saw  her  hand  go  up  as  though  to  stop 
him.  Then  he  saw  that  she  had  a  companion 
and  realised  that  it  was  the  other  woman  he 
had  seen  in  the  gambling  den  in  Staveley 
Road.  How  many  more  were  there  ?  And 
had  Eddy  been  right  after  all  ?  Search  as 
he  would,  however,  he  could  see  no  male 
member  of  the  gang  there,  and  supposed  that 
Molly  and  her  friend  must  have  gone  there 
just  to  enjoy  themselves.  But,  if  so,  why 
had  she  tried  to  stop  him  going  over  to  her  ? 
And  what  message  were  her  eyes  trying  to 
convey  to  him  now  ?  He  decided  to  find  out 
and  gradually  edged  closer  to  where  they  were 
standing.  He  was  within  about  six  yards  of 
Molly  and  her  companion,  when  he  saw  a  tall 
man  separate  himself  from  the  crowd  and 
go  up  to  them.  There  was  something  familiar 
about  his  appearance  and  yet  for  a  moment  he 
could  not  place  him.  And  then  he  realised,  with 
something  of  a  shock  that  it  was  Appleton,  one  of 
the  gang,  with  his  long  moustache  shaved  off. 
Was  he  alone,  or  were  there  others  ?  As  he 
scanned  the  faces  of  the  crowd  he  became  aware  of 
an  unusual  stir  at  the  far  end  of  the  room  ...  a 
sudden  tense  silence,  and  then  the  one  word  : 
"  Police  !  "  echoed  from  mouth  to  mouth. 


88  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

Jack's  heart  missed  a  beat.  Here  was  his 
opportunity  !  The  police  at  hand  and  Apple- 
ton  only  a  few  yards  away,  possibly  other 
members  of  the  gang  as  well,  even  Sullivan 
himself.  He  looked  at  the  door,  caught  a 
glimpse  of  Tom  Wheatley,  and  over  his  shoulder 
some  tall  figures  in  dark  blue.  Then  once 
more  his  eyes  sought  Molly.  She,  too,  was 
staring  at  the  oncoming  police,  and  there  was 
desperate  fear  in  her  eyes.  Then  Appleton 
bent  down  and  spoke  to  her,  and  Jack  saw 
that  no  others  of  the  gang  had  joined  him. 
No,  he  couldn't  do  it,  not  now,  Molly  must 
be  got  away  first.  She  had  helped  him  when 
he  was  in  dire  need  and  now  it  was  up  to  him 
to  try  and  help  her.  So  he  forced  his  way 
through  the  excited  crowd  to  her  side. 

"  You've  got  to  get  out  of  here,  Molly/' 
he  said,  and  the  other  woman  clutched  his 
arm. 

"  Do  you  know  a  way  out  ?  "  she  gasped. 

"  Only  the  door  I  came  in  by,"  was  the  reply; 
"but  we'll  have  to  try." 

Appleton  turned  suddenly,  and  Jack  saw  a 
queer  smile  on  his  face. 

"  I'm  the  only  one,  Mr.  Denham,  so  we'd 
best  call  a  truce.  I  guess  you're  as  keen  to 
get  out  of  this  as  we  are,  so  for  once  we'll  join 
forces."  Once  more  he  grinned,  and  Jack 
nodded.  "  Come  this  way.  There's  a  back 
passage  that  leads  into  another  street.  Come, 
you  two."  He  took  Molly's  arm  and  pulled 
her  behind  a  curtained  alcove. 


89 

"  Come  on  !  "  said  the  other  woman  sharply, 
taking  hold  of  Jack's  arm.  "  I'm  scared  to 
death."  She  drew  him  into  the  alcove  and 
Jack,  shaking  her  hand  off,  put  his  arm  round 
Molly's  shoulder  and  drew  her  aside. 

"Is  he  the  only  one  ?  "  he  asked,  with  a 
nod  towards  Appleton,  who  was  peering  through 
the  curtains. 

"  Yes.  When  we  get  outside,  run,  boy," 
she  whispered.  Then  with  an  oath,  Appleton 
turned  sharply. 

"  We'll  have  to  get  away  quick,"  he  said. 
"  Mr.  Denham,  look  after  Lizzie,  she's  scared  ; 
and  follow  me."  He  pressed  a  knob  in  the 
panelled  wall  and  a  door  slid  back  noiselessly. 
Then  he  pulled  Molly  through,  and  the  two 
others  followed  and  found  themselves  in  dark- 
ness. There  was  the  snap  of  an  electric  torch, 
and  Jack  saw  that  they  were  in  a  narrow  passage. 

"  Come  on  quick,"  whispered  Appleton.  "  I 
won't  guarantee  the  police  don't  find  that 
door." 

"  Oh  !  please,  Mr.  Denham,  help  me,  there's 
a  good  soul,"  panted  Lizzie  in  his  ear,  "I'm 
feeling  that  faint,  I  shall  drop." 

Jack  put  his  arm  round  her  and  felt  her 
weight  dragging  him  down. 

'  Try  and  pull  yourself  together,"  he  said. 
"  You'll  be  in  the  air  soon." 

But  the  woman's  weight  only  grew  heavier, 
and  he  heard  her  sob. 

"  Stop  a  second  !  "  he  called  out.  "  She's 
fainting,  I'm  afraid."  Appleton  turned  and 


go  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

looked  round,  and  at  that  moment  the  fainting 
woman  caught  hold  of  Jack's  leg  and  he  felt 
a  sharp  stab  of  pain  in  his  thigh.  He  stooped 
quickly  and  raised  her. 

"  Good  Lord  !  "  he  muttered.  "  I  wish  you 
women  wouldn't  fasten  your  clothes  with 
pins  !  That  hurt.  Now  come,  lean  on  me, 
we'll  be  out  in  a  second." 

He  put  an  arm  about  her  ample  figure  and 
wished  it  had  been  Molly.  Already  the  outer 
door  at  the  end  of  the  passage  was  open,  and 
somehow  he  dragged  his  heavy  burden  out  on  to 
the  pavement.  Molly  and  Applet  on  were  wait- 
ing under  a  lamp,  and  he  remembered  that 
Molly  had  told  him  to  run  when  he  got  outside. 
He  would,  only  he  must  take  a  breather  first. 
Odd  how  that  woman's  weight  had  taken  it  out  of 
him.  Odd  too,  that  he  felt  so  dizzy,  though 
perhaps  the  wine  ...  he  had  been  a  fool, 
he  must  get  a  grip  on  himself,  and  as  Molly 
had  said,  run.  But  he  didn't  run,  he  didn't 
even  walk ;  he  staggered  up  against  the  wall, 
leant  there  a  second  and  then  collapsed  limply 
in  a  heap  on  the  pavement.  He  was  then 
aware  of  Molly  on  her  knees  beside  him,  and  of 
Appleton  looking  down  at  him  with  a  smile 
on  his  face. 

"  Drunk  !  "  he  said,  laconically.  "  I'll  get  a 
taxi,"  and  he  was  gone. 

"  Drunk  !  "  exclaimed  Molly,  indignantly. 
"  You  fool,  he's  not  drunk,  he's  ill.  Boy,  boy, 
what  is  it  ?  What's  the  matter  ?  ' 

"  My — leg "  said  Jack  thickly,  and  with 


THE   HUNDREDTH  CHANCE        91 

difficulty.  He  tried  to  point  to  the  spot  that 
was  still  smarting  and  realised  with  dismay 
that  not  only  was  the  power  of  speech  leaving 
him,  but  all  movement  as  well.  "  She — 

pricked "  and  then  words  failed  altogether, 

and  he  lay  there  staring  up  at  Molly's  stricken 
face,  aware  at  last  of  what  had  happened  ; 
for  though  his  body  and  tongue  were  paralysed, 
his  brain,  his  sight  and  hearing,  were  perfectly 
clear.  It  did  not  need  a  laugh  from  the  other 
woman,  or  the  sight  of  that  which  she  held 
in  her  hand  to  explain  things.  Nor  yet  Molly's 
cry  of  rage  as  she  saw  and  heard,  and,  jumping 
to  her  feet,  tore  the  hypodermic  syringe  out  of 
Lizzie's  hand. 

"  You — you "  rage  made  her  inarticulate, 

and  the  other  broke  in. 

"  All  right,  I  had  my  orders.  Don't  lose 
your  temper  or  your  senses,  my  gal.  If  you 
go  on  like  this  when  Alec  gets  back  he'll  think 
you've  either  gone  dotty  or  turned  against  us, 
and  I  wouldn't  be  you  if  Jim  got  to  know." 

The  warning  was  enough  ;  Molly,  fuming, 
but  impotent,  held  her  tongue.  As  she  put 
the  syringe  into  her  bag  a  taxi  came  round 
the  corner,  drew  up,  and  Applet  on  sprang  out. 

"  Ah,  so  our  young  friend  has  thought  it 
safer  to  lie  down,"  he  observed,  with  a  glance 
at  Jack,  and,  turning  to  the  driver:  "  Some  of 
these  young  men  never  know  when  to  stop, 
do  they  ?  " 

"  You're  right,  sir,"  replied  the  man  with  a 
grin.  "  Friend  of  yours,  sir  ?  " 


92  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

'  Yes/'  was  the  reply.  "  We'll  see  him 
home,  of  course.  Get  out  of  the  way,  Moll." 
He  bent  down  and  seized  her  wrist.  "  I  know 
you're  a  fool  where  dope  is  concerned,"  he 
muttered  under  his  breath,  "  that's  why  I 
didn't  let  you  in  on  this  stunt  ;  but  if  you 
let  this  chap  see  there  is  anything  wrong,  I'll 
tell  Jim,  see  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  said  dully,  "  I  see."  She  turned 
away  with  a  shrug,  she  could  do  nothing  to 
help  him  this  time,  and  she  was  sick  at  heart. 

"  Better  get  him  in,"  said  Lizzie.  "  The 
pavement's  none  too  warm  or  soft." 

And  Jack,  unable  to  utter  a  word  or  to  lift 
so  much  as  a  finger,  but  acutely  conscious  of 
all  that  went  on,  realised  fully  what  he  was  in 
for,  lay  there,  and  was  presently  lifted  by 
Appleton  and  the  driver  and  placed  inside  the 
cab. 

"  Never  seed  such  a  gorner  afore,"  com- 
mented the  driver.  "  Comes  from  that  there 
club  as  the  police  are  raiding  I  suppose.  They 
must  do  'em  top  'ole  in  there,  guv'nor." 

"  They  do,  hot  stuff,"  was  the  reply.  "  Jump 
in  you  two."  He  gave  a  direction  to  the  man 
which  Jack  could  not  catch,  and  they  were  off. 

Appleton,  who  was  sitting  next  to  Jack,  lit 
a  cigarette,  and  gave  a  quiet  chuckle. 

"  Pretty  neat  that,  eh,  Liz  ?  You  were 
prime  and  no  mistake.  You're  for  it  this 
time  I  reckon,  young  man.  Not  the  ghost  of 
a  chance  of  a  getaway  this  little  jaunt." 

Jack,    realising   that    the   man    spoke   only 


THE  HUNDREDTH   CHANCE         93 

the  bald  truth,  sat  there  staring  in  front  of 
him,  black  despair  in  his  soul.  Of  what  use 
now  to  remember  Eddy's  words  of  warning  ? 
This  was  the  result  of  his  own  mad,  selfish 
folly,  and  this  reflection  served  but  to  add  gall 
to  his  bitterness.  He  sat  there  staring  at 
Molly  who  was  opposite  him.  He  wondered 
if  she  realised  as  vividly  as  he  did  that  Apple- 
ton  spoke  the  truth,  and  that  this  time  he  was, 
indeed,  "for  it."  How  cleverly  it  had  all 
been  planned;  but  he  wondered  exactly  how, 
and  the  next  instant,  could  he  have  made  a 
sound,  would  have  laughed  at  his  own  folly 
in  giving  so  trivial  a  matter  even  a  thought. 
What  did  it  or  anything  matter  now  ?  It  was 
merely  a  question  of  a  few  hours. 

But  Applet  on,  watching  his  victim  intently, 
and  guessing  what  must  be  passing  through  his 
mind,  chose  for  his  own  reasons  to  enlighten  him. 

"  Yes,  it  came  off  well,  didn't  it  ?  "  he  said. 
"  You  see,  I  was  at  the  Argos  last  night  and 
happened  to  overhear  your  friend's  invitation 
and  your  acceptance.  I  arranged  my  plans 
accordingly,  sent  an  anonymous  letter  to  the 
police,  for  only  in  the  excitement  of  a  raid 
could  I  have  got  you  out  without  you  suspect- 
ing. Lizzie  and  a  hypodermic  syringe  did  the 
rest.  You're  pretty  green,  young  man,  and 
fell  easy.  Now,  perhaps  you  would  like  to 
know  where  we  are  taking  you  ?  '; 

"  Steady,  Alec,"  put  in  Lizzie,  "  don't  go 
gassing  too  much,  you  never  know,  you  know." 
The  man  laughed  derisively. 


94  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  Don't  you  worry,"  he  retorted,  "  it  don't 
matter  what  he  knows  now,  hell  never  have  a 
chance  to  tell,"  and  then  to  Jack — "  We're 
taking  you  to  a  pal's  house  in  Chelsea.  He's 
a  good  pal,  and  while  he's  away  gives  us  the 
key  and  the  run  of  the  house.  There  we  shall 
wait  for  Jim  and  the  rest  who  will  come  in 
their  car  and  we'll  all  go  home  together.  For 
obvious  reasons,  which  you  will  be  the  first 
to  realise,  I  can't  direct  the  driver  to  our 
house,  so  we  have  to  break  our  journey  else- 
where." 

"  Why  don't  you  tell  him  what  Jim's  doing 
and  why  he  can't  come  himself  and  take  us 
straight  home  ?  "  suggested  Lizzie  sarcastically. 

"  Later  perhaps,"  replied  the  man,  ignoring 
her  tone.  '  There's  no  reason  so  far  as  I  can 
see  why  he  shouldn't  know.  He's  best  part 
dead  already.  What  say  you,  Molly,  my  gal  ?  ' 

"  Anything  you  like,"  was  the  listless  reply. 
"  I  don't  care  what  you  do,  I'm  too  blinking 
tired.  I  suppose  we  can  lie  down  and  have  a 
nap  when  we  get  there  ?  ' 

"  Of  course,  but  you  won't  have  much  time 
for  that.  It's  after  twelve  now,"  he  glanced 
at  his  watch,  "  and  Jim  is  due  in  about  half 
an  hour  if  all  goes  well.  Ah  !  here  we  are." 

The  taxi  drew  up,  and  Applet  on  sprang  out. 

"  Give  me  a  hand  with  this  fellow,"  he  said 
to  the  driver,  "  he's  still  helpless." 

The  two  men  carried  Jack  between  them 
up  the  two  steps  to  the  door.  Appleton  in- 
serted a  latch  key  and  switched  on  the  light  as 


THE  HUNDREDTH   CHANCE        95 

the  door  swung  back,  and  Jack  was  carried  into 
the  narrow  passage  and  placed  on  an  oak  settle. 

"  Shall  I  'elp  you  get  'im  upstairs  ?  '' 
asked  the  driver,  looking  rather  curiously  at 
the  supposed  drunkard's  face.  He  had  seen 
a  good  many  in  his  life  but  never  one  quite 
like  this,  and  yet  he  could  not  have  said  in 
what  way  he  differed,  unless  it  was  in  that 
queer  fixed  stare.  He  was  puzzled,  and  Apple- 
ton  saw  that  he  was,  and  made  haste  to  get 
him  away. 

"  He's  been  like  this  before,"  he  said;  "  he'll 
come  round  in  about  an  hour,  don't  you  bother. 
Here's  for  your  trouble,"  he  pressed  some 
coins  into  the  man's  hand,  and,  satisfied  that 
it  was  none  of  his  business,  he  turned  and 
went,  and  presently  forgot  the  incident  in  the 
search  for  more  fares. 

"  Come  on,  get  him  upstairs,"  said  Applet  on, 
as  the  door  slammed  behind  the  driver.  "  You 
take  his  legs,  Lizzie." 

Between  them — Jack  was  a  light  weight — 
they  got  him  up  the  narrow  stairs,  and  presently 
he  found  himself  lying  in  an  arm-chair  in  what 
looked  like  a  large  studio.  It  certainly  could 
be  nothing  else,  for  there  was  a  skylight 
and  no  other  windows.  There  were  easels  and 
loose  canvasses  stacked  against  the  walls  and 
all  the  impedimenta  of  the  artist.  As  he  sat 
there  wondering  to  which  of  the  gang  this 
place  belonged,  Molly  came  into  his  restricted 
area  of  vision.  He  saw  her  turn  and  look  at 
him  with  such  a  wealth  of  misery  and  anguish 


96  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

in  her  eyes  that  his  heart  sank  lower  if  that 
were  possible.  And  then  he  saw  her  turn  to 
Applet  on  with  a  quick  jerk. 

"  Here,  give  me  a  drink,  I'm  all  in." 

He  heard  Appleton  laugh,  heard  the  gurgle 
of  liquid  poured  into  a  tumbler,  and  saw  Molly 
toss  off  a  large  glass  of  what  he  supposed  was 
either  whisky  or  brandy,  and  somehow  hated  to 
see  her  doing  it.  Then  his  thoughts  were  cut 
short  by  the  sound  of  a  telephone  bell,  and 
into  his  range  of  vision  once  more  came  Apple- 
ton,  and  presently  he  heard  him  speaking. 

"  That  you,  Jim  ?  Is  all  well  ?  '  Then, 
after  a  pause — "  Hell  !  You  don't  mean  that  ? 
Oh,  yes,  we've  got  him  fast.  Our  part  of  the 
job  went  without  a  hitch.  Then  it's  no  use 
expecting  you  yet.  All  right,  we'll  get  a  bit 
of  sleep."  He  turned  round. 

"Jim's  had  bad  luck,"  he  said.  'The 
police  spotted  the  car  and  gave  chase.  They 
got  away  but  have  to  go  home  to  change  the 
colour  scheme  and  number  plate.  He  spoke 
from  a  call  office." 

"  Did  he  get  the  stuff  he  was  after  ?  "  in- 
quired Lizzie,  anxiously. 

"  Yes,  a  good  haul,  but  was  spotted;  at  least 
the  car  was,  at  the  end,  and  they  had  the 
devil's  own  trouble  to  get  clear.  Curse  the 
police.  I  suppose  it's  this  beggar  we  have  to 
thank  for  their  activities.  It's  a  good  job  we 
shan't  be  troubled  by  him  much  longer.  Here, 
give  me  a  hand  and  I'll  get  him  on  to  one  of 
the  beds.  The  stuff '11  hold  him  for  an  hour 


THE  HUNDREDTH  CHANCE  97 

or  two,  until  Jim  comes,  anyway.     I  suppose 
you  gave  him  enough,  Liz  ?  ' 

"  The  usual  dose,"  was  the  callous  reply.  "  I 
suppose  you  didn't  want  to  kill  him  straight 
off?  " 

"  Better  for  him  if  you  had,"  retorted  Apple- 
ton  dryly,  "  and  better  for  us  all.  I  don't 
set  up  for  being  a  saint,  but  some  of  Jim's 
ideas  and  mine  don't  agree  exactly.  As  far 
as  I'm  concerned  it's  safety  I'm  after,  not  cold- 
blooded cruelty." 

Lizzie  gave  a  coarse  laugh. 

"  You  should  have  thought  of  that  before 
you  set  the  trap,"  she  said. 

"  Orders  are  orders,"  was  the  terse  reply. 
"  Come  on." 

Jack  became  aware  of  Applet  on 's  hands 
under  his  armpits  and  Lizzie  at  his  feet,  and 
presently  he  was  carried  from  the  studio  and 
laid  upon  a  narrow  though  comfortable  bed 
in  a  small  room.  It  was  abominably  stuffy 
and  hot,  and  Applet  on  went  to  the  window, 
drew  back  the  blinds  and  opened  it  at  the  top, 
Then  he  went  back  to  the  bed,  bent  over  the 
motionless  figure  and  peered  into  the  set  face. 

"  In  my  opinion  he's  good  for  a  couple  of 
hours,"  he  said  to  Molly,  who  had  come  in 
and  was  anxiously  watching  him.  "  And  long 
before  that  Jim  will  be  here." 

"  Yes,"  said  Molly,  "  so  you'd  better  go  and 
set  the  lamp  in  the  window  as  was  arranged, 
and  I'll  see  to  my  own  comfort  and  try  and  get 
a  little  sleep  myself." 

a 


98  THE   WRONG  NUMBER 

Appleton  nodded,  and  turned  at  the  door. 

"  Put  out  the  light,  girl,  and  lock  the  door, 
but  leave  the  key  in  as  I  shall  want  to  have 
another  look  at  him  later." 

He  went  out,  and  Molly  stood  listening 
for  a  moment,  and  then  she  ran  quickly  to  the 
bed  and  bent  over. 

"  I  know  you  can  understand  what  I  say," 
she  whispered,  "  even  if  you  can't  speak. 
Of  course,  it  doesn't  matter  to  you,  but  I've 
got  to  put  myself  right.  I  knew  nothing  of 
this,  they  never  told  me  I  was  to  see  you, 
and  when  I  did  I  tried  to  warn  you.  But  they 
were  too  clever  for  me.  And  now  it's  impossible 
to  help  you.  But  there's  one  thing  I  can  do," 
a  sudden  dry  sob  choked  her  utterance.  "  If 
Jim  comes,"  she  went  on  after  a  pause,  "  and 
means  to  take  you  away  and — and  torture  you, 

I'll "  once  more  she  broke  off,  and  Jack 

saw  her  draw  a  tiny  automatic  pistol  from  her 
pocket.  "  Yes,  if  it  kills  me  I'll  do  it,  and  they 
may  hang  me  for  it  if  they  like  ;  I  don't  care 

now,  I'm  pretty  sick  of  life  since '  She 

broke  off  and  bent  lower,  and  Jack  felt  warm 
lips  pressed  upon  his  own.  And  then  she  was 
gone  and  he  was  alone  with  his  thoughts. 

At  best  then,  he  could  only  hope  for  death, 
a  quick  death.  Well,  after  all,  what  else  ? 
There  was  no  escape  this  time.  He  wondered 
if  they  would  leave  his  body  here  to  be  found, 
or  if  they  would  take  it  with  them.  And 
what  would  Jim  Sullivan  do  to  Molly  when  he 
found  out  what  she  had  done  ?  Would  there 


THE  HUNDREDTH  CHANCE         99 

be  another  murder  ?  He  felt  very  tired,  and 
his  thoughts  were  not  as  clear  as  they  had 
been.  It  was  odd  how  this  drug  had  simply 
deadened  his  body  and  left  his  brain  quite 
clear,  only  it  did  not  seem  so  clear  now.  He 
found  his  mind  wandering  to  other  things. 
The  houses  opposite.  He  could  just  see  the 
outline  of  the  roofs  against  the  faint  glimmer 
of  a  starlit  sky,  and  he  wondered  who  lived 
there  and  what  they  would  say  when  they  read 
in  the  papers  of  the  horrible  crime  that  had 
been  committed  only  a  hundred  yards  from 
their  own  peaceful  bedrooms.  And  Eddy — 
God  !  if  he  had  only  listened  to  him  !  But 
of  what  use  all  this  now  ?  His  eyes  closed, 
and  the  agony  of  his  mind  prevented  him  from 
realising  a  strange  fact.  Until  then  the  drug 
had  restricted  even  the  movement  of  an 
eyelid. 

Half  an  hour  later  he  awoke  and  passed  a 
hand  across  his  forehead.  His  arm  felt  heavy 
as  lead,  and  his  head  was  aching  and  throbbing 
horribly.  Where  was  he  ?  On  a  bed,  fully 
dressed,  in  complete  darkness  and  not  a  sound 
to  break  the  silence.  Then  in  a  flash,  memory 
returned,  and  with  it  a  sickening  fear  that 
after  all  he  was  not  awake,  but  dreaming.  For 
when  he  had  been  laid  on  the  bed  he  had  not 
been  able  to  move  so  much  as  an  eyelid. 

Now  he  had  his  arm  raised.  Presently, 
greatly  fearing,  he  attempted  to  sit  up,  and 
found  that  he  could,  though  his  body  felt 
strangely  heavy.  But  he  could  move,  that  was 


ioo  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

all  that  mattered  at  the  moment.  Then 
the  question  of  time  occurred  to  him.  He 
remembered  that  Appleton  had  said  the  drug 
was  good  for  two  hours.  Therefore,  how  long 
had  he  slept  ?  The  full  two  hours  ?  And  if  so, 
was  Sullivan  here,  and  had  Molly  failed  to  get 
to  him  ?  These  torturing  thoughts  were  agony. 
He  listened  intently  for  any  sound  that 
might  give  an  answer  to  his  questions,  but  the 
silence  was  unbroken.  Hope  came  with  that 
silence  ;  it  meant  at  least  that  Sullivan  was 
not  here  yet,  and  he  put  his  feet  to  the  floor 
and,  catching  at  the  brass  bedstead,  stood  up. 
Yes,  he  could  stand  !  He  remembered  that  the 
door  was  directly  opposite  the  window  behind 
his  bed,  and,  not  trusting  his  legs,  he  crawled 
there  on  hands  and  knees.  Then  he  switched 
on  the  light  and  looked  at  his  wrist  watch. 
It  was  one  o'clock,  so  he  had  only  slept  for 
half  an  hour.  Then,  how  came  it  that  in  that 
short  time  the  powers  of  the  drug  had  worn 
off  ?  Perhaps  that  wretched  woman  had  not 
given  him  the  full  quantity,  or  he  might  require 
more  than  others  did.  But  the  matter  was 
immaterial.  The  factor  that  counted  was  that 
the  numbing  effects  of  the  drug  had  gone,  and 
at  least  if  it  came  to  a  struggle  he  could  die 
fighting,  instead  of  being  slaughtered  in  cold 
blood.  He  turned  off  the  light  and  made  his 
way  back  to  the  window,  took  hold  of  the  two 
rings  and  gently  raised  it.  There  was  no 
sound,  and  when  he  had  raised  it  about  a  foot 
he  knelt  down  and  put  his  head  out.  But  one 


THE   HUNDREDTH   CHANCE       101 

glance  showed  him  that  there  was  no  escape 
that  way.  A  sheer  drop  of  over  thirty  feet 
on  to  a  little  paved  yard.  It  would  be  suicide 
to  attempt  it.  Opposite,  a  hundred  yards 
away,  for  a  mews  seemed  to  divide  them, 
were  the  backs  of  houses,  he  supposed  similar 
to  the  one  he  was  in,  and  he  wondered  in  what 
part  of  London  he  was.  Appleton  had  said 
Chelsea,  possibly  it  was  true,  as  this  was 
evidently  an  artist's  house.  And  then,  as  he 
knelt  there  breathing  in  the  cool  night  air 
and  wondering  what  possible  advantage  it 
could  be  to  him  to  know  where  he  was,  seeing 
that  wherever  it  was  he  could  not  possibly 
make  a  get-away  out  of  this  room,  a  light 
appeared  in  one  of  the  windows  opposite, 
remained  for  a  few  seconds  and  disappeared. 
Someone  over  there  was  awake,  but  it  was  too 
far  off  to  call  for  help;  that,  anyway  was  out 
of  the  question.  No,  there  was  nothing  for 
it  but  to  wait,  wait  for  these  butchers  to  come 
and  kill  him.  A  sudden  rage  seized  him. 
It  was  impossible,  outrageous  ;  it  could  not 
be,  not  here  in  the  very  heart  of  London. 
There  must  be  some  way  of  escape.  Surely 
something  would  flash  across  his  mind  as  that 
light  had  done  a  moment  ago,  and  save  him. 
And  the  idea  came  even  with  the  thought. 

Those  two  words,  flash  and  light  !  That 
was  it  !  If  he  could  see  the  light  across  the 
mews,  then  the  same  thing  applied  to  those 
living  opposite.  And  someone  was  awake, 
or  had  been.  Possibly  had  turned  on  the 


102  THE  WRONG   NUMBER 

light  to  look  at  a  watch  or  clock  as  he  had, 
and  then,  hideous  possibility,  gone  to  sleep 
again.  He  must  act  now,  at  once. 

Back  again  to  the  door,  and,  taking  the 
switch  between  finger  and  thumb,  he  pressed 
it  down  so  that  there  should  be  no  click.  He 
knew  the  Morse  code,  but  was  well  aware 
of  the  fact  that  there  was  not  a  chance  of  one 
in  a  hundred  living  across  there  knowing  it 
too.  Anyway,  it  was  his  only  chance,  and  so 
he  flashed  out  the  signal  of  distress  :  S — O — S. 
Paused,  and  again  repeated  it.  Six  times 
the  cry  for  help  was  signalled  from  his  window. 
S — O — S.  God !  Would  there  never  be  a 
reply  ?  Was  his  luck  out  at  last,  and  was  that 
hundredth  chance  to  fail  ? 


Geoffrey  Chadbrook,  Boy  Scout,  had  retired 
to  bed  early  that  night  on  the  recommendation 
of  his  mother,  who  reminded  him  that  he  would 
have  to  be  up  early  if  he  wanted  to  catch  the 
train  that  was  to  take  him  and  the  rest  of  the 
Scouts  to  their  camp  near  Sevenoaks.  Thus 
it  came  about  that,  partly  because  he  had  gone 
to  bed  earlier  than  usual,  and  partly  on  account 
of  the  pleasurable  excitement  in  the  anticipa- 
tion of  to-morrow,  he  slept  badly,  waking  up 
every  now  and  then  with  the  certainty  and 
dread  on  his  mind  that  he  had  overslept,  and 
in  consequence  missed  the  early  train.  Every 
time  he  awoke  he  switched  on  the  light  and 
glanced  at  his  watch.  The  last  time  it  was 


THE  HUNDREDTH  CHANCE       103 

nearly  one  o'clock,  and  once  more  he  lay  down 
and  closed  his  eyes.  But  sleep  was  far  from 
him ;  moreover,  someone  was  fooling  with 
the  light  across  the  way  which  bothered  him. 
What  could  the  silly  blighters  be  doing  at 
this  hour  ?  Once  more  he  sat  up  staring  through 
the  wide  open  window.  There  it  was  again. 
What  on  earth  did  it  mean  ?  And  now  again, 
and  he  noticed  that  it  was  exactly  like  the 
other  flashes,  some  long,  others  quick  and  short, 
and,  yes,  they  were  in  threes,  like — now  what 
was  it  like  ?  Something  he  had  seen — like  a 
signal.  By  gosh  !  yes,  that  was  it — a  signal. 
He  sprang  out  of  bed  and  ran  to  the  window. 
There  it  was  again,  and  now  the  full  significance 
of  what  it  meant  came  to  him.  The  Morse 
code  !  He  knew  it  perfectly,  and  the  letters 
now  being  so  persistently  flashed  across  to 
him  or  to  someone  else,  was  the  call  for  help, 
S — O — S.  Now,  what  did  it  mean  ?  Was 
someone  really  calling  for  help,  or  was  it  only 
silly  fooling  ?  Somehow  he  did  not  think  it 
was  ;  for  he  could  not  imagine  anyone  cap- 
able of  abusing  or  misusing  so  sacred  a  code, 
to  him  sacred  since  it  usually  concerned  a 
matter  of  life  or  death.  At  any  rate  he  would 
wait,  and  if  it  came  again  he  would  answer. 
And  it  did  come  again,  and  before  the  last 
letter  had  been  flashed  out  Geoffrey  Chadbrook 
was  across  the  room  and  had  seized  the  switch. 

"  Carry  on,"  he  signalled,  and  waited. 

And  along  came  a  message.  Some  of  the 
letters  were  wrong,  but  he  spelled  it  out  easily 


104  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

enough,  and  as  he  did  so  his  heart  thumped 
loudly  against  his  ribs. 

"  Held  prisoner,  danger  of  death.  Can  you 
help  ?  ' 

Once  more  Geoffrey  Chadbrook  replied  : 

'  Who  speaking  ?     Number  of  house  ?  ' 

"  Name  Jack  Denham.    Don't  know  number." 

Geoffrey  gasped,  paused  a  moment,  and 
replied  : 

"  Know  Captain  Denham.  Am  Geoffrey 
Chadbrook.  Shall  I  telephone  police  ?  "  And 
the  reply  : 

"  No,  for  God's  sake  don't,  will  involve  a 
woman.  Come  yourself  or  telephone  my 
brother." 

Geoffrey  paused.  He  knew  Captain  Den- 
ham, who  often  stayed  at  Normanton  Hall 
near  his  father's  own  place,  and  had  heard  of 
harum-scarum  Jack  often.  Could  this  be  a 
trick,  one  of  Jack's  famous  practical  jokes  ? 
He  flashed  across  a  question  : 

"  Is  this  genuine  or  a  joke  ?  '  And  the 
answer  "  For  God's  sake  come !  "  decided 
him. 

"  Coming,"  he  replied.  Then  he  hurried 
into  his  Scout's  uniform,  for  he  felt  that  such 
an  occasion  demanded  nothing  less.  He  only 
regretted  the  lack  of  a  revolver,  but  down- 
stairs in  the  hall  whither  he  had  crept  like  a 
cat,  he  supplied  its  place  by  a  stout  knotted 
stick.  Though  what  exactly  he  meant  to  do 
with  it  he  couldn't  say,  nor  what  his  exact 
plan  was  to  be  either.  At  one  time  he  thought 


THE  HUNDREDTH  CHANCE      105 

of  going  and  telling  his  father,  but  considered 
that  perhaps  this  strange  Mr.  Denham  might 
not  like  that  as  there  appeared  to  be  a  woman 
concerned  in  it.  He  remembered  that  the 
house  had  been  the  one  directly  opposite,  and 
as  he  knew,  being  a  very  observant  Scout 
indeed,  that  all  the  houses  on  his  side  and  the 
other  were  precisely  similar  in  size,  all  he  had 
to  do  was  to  count  them  first  on  his  side,  and 
then,  when  he  had  turned  the  corner,  passed 
the  few  houses  there  and  once  more  turned  in 
the  opposite  direction — for  these  houses  formed 
a  kind  of  oblong  block — he  must  count  them 
again  as  he  went,  and  he  would  easily  find  the 
house  he  wanted.  But  then  came  the  question  : 
When  he  had  found  it,  what  must  he  do  ?  For 
a  moment  his  brave  heart  failed  him  and  he 
stood  uncertainly  on  the  pavement.  Supposing 
the  people  who  had  got  hold  of  Mr.  Denham 
were  desperate  criminals,  he  might  be  hurt — 
killed.  .  .  .  Well,  he  could  easily  go  back 
now  and  no  one  be  the  wiser ;  he  had 
taken  the  latchkey  that  hung  in  the  hall  and 
could  easily  let  himself  in.  And  Jack  Den- 
ham, what  of  him  ?  The  message  distinctly 
said  "  danger  of  death  "  and  "  for  God's  sake 
come  !  "  Could  a  Scout  turn  back  after  such 
messages  as  those  ?  And  if  he  did,  could  he 
ever  again  look  his  beloved  Scoutmaster 
in  the  face,  or  anyone  else  for  the  matter  of 
that  ? 

"  You  blinking  coward  !  "  he  muttered,  and 
strode  on  manfully. 


io6  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

Down  a  side  street  he  caught  a  glimpse 
under  a  light  of  a  dark  figure  walking  slowly 
and  silently  along.  Well,  any  way  he  had  a 
whistle  and  there  was  a  policeman  not  so  far 
off  if  the  worst  did  come  to  the  worst.  He 
reached  the  house  and  saw  a  light  from  one 
of  the  lower  windows.  Once  more  he  paused, 
and  then,  with  a  sudden  jerk  and  taking  a 
deep  breath,  he  ran  up  the  steps,  rang  the  bell 
and  knocked  loudly  on  the  door.  His  plan 
was  simple ;  moreover,  it  had  the  merit  of 
being  the  only  one  he  could  think  of  ;  if  it 
failed,  and  he  found  that  there  really  was 
trouble  here,  he  would  go  and  fetch  that 
constable,  that  is,  if  he  got  the  chance.  And 
at  the  thought,  once  more  his  heart  began  to 
beat  painfully.  There  was  silence  for  a  minute 
or  two,  and  then  he  heard  a  slight  noise 
above  him.  He  looked  up  and  saw  a  window 
being  gently  raised  and  a  man  put  his  head 
out. 

"Who  is  there?  "  came  a  low  voice.  "Is 
that  you,  Jim  ?  ' 

"No,  it's  not,"  replied  the  boy,  and  to  his 
great  annoyance,  he  knew  that  his  voice  was 
not  steady.  "  Never  mind  who  it  is,"  he  went 
on,  "  I  happen  to  know  that  Mr.  Jack  Den- 
ham  is  here  and  I  want  him.  Will  you  be  good 
enough  to  ask  him  to  come  down  and  speak 
to  me  ?  " 

There  was  a  pause,  and  then  once  more  the 
man  spoke. 

"  'Fraid  you've  made  a  mistake,"  he  said, 


THE  HUNDREDTH  CHANCE      107 

"  no  one  of  that  name  is  here,  you've  come  to 
the  wrong  house." 

"  Oh,  no,  I  haven't,"  replied  Geoffrey  Chad- 
brook.  "  I  happen  to  know  he  is  here.  And 
I'll  tell  you  this,  I've  got  a  police  whistle  on 
me  and  there's  a  constable  not  very  far  off, 
I  passed  him  just  now.  If  Mr.  Denham 
isn't  down  here  on  this  step  in  exactly  three 
minutes,  I'll  blow  that  whistle  and  get  the 
police,  see  ?  ' 

Once  more  silence,  and  then  : 

'  What  the  devil  do  you  mean  ?  "  asked  the 
man  angrily,  but  still  under  his  breath.  "  Be 
off  this  moment  or  it  will  be  /  who  will  call  the 
police." 

As  the  last  word  left  his  lips  the  door  opened 
and  a  woman's  figure  stood  silhouetted  against 
the  faint  light  in  the  passage. 

"  Who  is  it  ?  What  do  you  want  ?  "  she 
asked. 

"  I  want  Mr.  Jack  Denham,  that's  all,"  was 
the  reply.  "  I  know  he's  here,  he  signalled 
to  me  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  ago  from 
an  upper  window,  Morse  code,  which  I  hap- 
pened to  know.  He  asked  me  not  to  bring 
the  police  in  as  there  was  a  woman  here — you, 
I  suppose."  She  nodded,  but  said  nothing. 
"  But  I  don't  care  a  thing  about  that,  so  I  tell 
you  straight  that  if  Denham  isn't  here  in  three 
minutes  I'll  whistle  for  the  police." 

The  woman  looked  at  the  eager  young  face 
and  gave  a  queer  little  laugh. 

"  Bless  your  little  heart,  kiddie,"  she  said, 


io8  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

but  so  low  and  in  such  a  trembling,  shaky 
voice  that  he  only  just  heard  it.  And  then 
she  stepped  back  into  the  house,  closing  the 
door  behind  her. 

The  boy  looked  up  at  the  window  once  more, 
but  the  man  had  gone,  and  so  once  more  he 
waited,  but  this  time  at  a  respectful  distance 
from  the  door.  For  if  the  man  meant  to  come 
out  and  try  to  get  hold  of  him,  he  would  be 
in  a  position  to  make  a  bolt  for  it  and  get  hold 
of  that  policeman.  In  the  distance  he  heard 
the  faint  hum  of  a  car,  and  then  a  noise  as  of 
footsteps  in  the  passage  behind  the  door.  Once 
more  it  was  opened,  a  man  came  out  quickly, 
as  though  impelled  by  a  push  from  behind, 
and  the  door  slammed  to  with  a  noisy  bang. 
For  a  moment  the  man  stood  motionless, 
staring  into  vacancy. 

"  Is  that  you,  Mr.  Denham  ?  ' 

The  sound  of  the  clear,  crisp  voice  galvanised 
the  half -dazed  man  into  instant  action.  He 
walked  unsteadily  down  the  steps,  and  as 
Geoffrey  felt  a  hand  gripping  his  own,  a  big 
car  came  quickly  round  the  corner  towards 
them.  One  glance  decided  the  quick-witted 
Scout. 

"  I  believe  that  car's  going  to  stop  at  this 
house  !  "  he  said.  "  Come  on."  Jack  Denham 
turned  and  looked. 

"  You're  right,"  he  said,  in  a  curiously 
thick  voice.  "It's  Sullivan  !  Let  me  hold 
your  arm  and  I'll  try  and  run.  I've  been 
doped." 


THE  HUNDREDTH  CHANCE       109 

As  they  started  off  along  the  road  the  big 
car  drew  up  at  the  door  and  a  man  sprang  out. 
Geoffrey  Chadbrook  was  tall  and  unusually 
strong  for  his  fifteen  years  ;  he  noticed  the 
laboured  breathing  of  the  man  beside  him, 
gathered,  in  his  quick  way  that  Sullivan, 
whoever  he  might  be,  was  someone  to  be  feared 
and  to  be  run  from,  and  suddenly  put  an  arm 
round  his  companion's  body. 

"  I'll  help  you,  just  move  your  legs  and  I'll 
hold  you  up." 

Jack  gasped  his  thanks  and  presently  they 
turned  a  corner.  There  were  shops  here, 
all  shuttered  and  dark,  and  not  far  off  an 
archway  leading  to  some  back  alley.  Into  its 
shelter  Jack  staggered  and  sat  down  on  the 
pavement. 

"  I'm  done,"  he  said,  and  leaned  his  head 
on  his  hands.  Geoffrey  was  at  a  loss  and  feeling 
rather  frightened.  By  the  light  of  a  lamp 
not  far  off  he  could  see  that  this  man  looked 
ghastly  white  and  ill  and  the  horrible  possibility 
of  his  dying  before  help  could  be  got  assailed 
him.  But  to  his  agonised  question  came  a 
reassuring  reply. 

"No,  sonny,  I'm  all  right,  only  feel  a  bit 
sick.  I  say,  I  simply  can't  begin  to  thank 
you.  I "  but  Geoffrey  cut  him  short. 

"  Oh  !  stow  that  tosh,"  he  said.  "  Look  here, 
who  is  Sullivan  ?  '  He  wanted  to  know  more 
of  what  all  this  meant. 

"  Leader  of  the  gang — criminals — mur- 
derers— "  said  Jack  thickly. 


no  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  When  he  finds  you've  gone,  will  he  come 
after  you  ?  He  must  have  seen  us." 

"  Yes,  he  will.  Do  you  think  we  could  find 
a  taxi  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"  We  might,  but  I  daren't  leave  you,"  said 
the  boy,  anxiously. 

"  You're  a  brick,"  said  Jack.  "  Let's  try 
and  go  on  together,  I  can  manage  for  a  bit 
longer."  Geoffrey  helped  him  to  rise,  and  once 
more  supporting  him,  they  went  on  down  the 
street. 

'  Where  are  we  ?  "  asked  Jack,  presently. 

'  This  is  Chelsea.  The  house  you  were  in 
was  No.  40,  Heron  Street.  Ah  !  there's  a  cop, 
he  may  have  seen  a  taxi  perhaps." 

"  Don't  tell  him  about — about — anything 
that's  happened — "  said  Jack,  nervously. 

"I'd  like  to,  but  I  suppose  that  girl  stops 
it.  She  seemed  glad  I  came,"  said  Geoffrey, 
and  looked  hard  at  Jack. 

"I'll  tell  you  all  about  it  later,"  was  the 
reply. 

"  All  right,  I  won't  give  anything  away, 
don't  worry,"  and  the  Scout  crossed  the  road 
and  accosted  the  constable. 

"  Seen  any  taxis  about,  constable  ?  '  he 
asked.  "  My  friend's  not  very  well,"  he 
grinned,  and  winked  slyly,  "  and  I  want  to  get 
him  home  safe,  see  ?  ' 

The  officer,  a  young  man,  flashed  his  light 
over  Geoffrey  and  grinned  back. 

"  There's    one    just    brought    some    people 


THE  HUNDREDTH  CHANCE       in 

to  a  house  down  that  street,"  he  said,  waving 
an  arm.  "  If  you  run  you'll  get  it." 

So  Geoffrey  ran,  and  presently  shouted,  while 
the  policeman  flashed  his  light  on  to  Jack 
Denham,  and  considered  that  he  must  be  very 
drunk  indeed.  So  drunk,  that  he  crossed 
the  road  to  have  a  nearer  look  :  and  as  he  did 
so  a  big  car  came  round  the  corner  out  of 
Heron  Street  and  drove  slowly  by.  In  it 
were  three  men  and  two  women,  and  one  of 
the  men  peered  out  eagerly. 

"  Steady,  sir,"  said  the  constable,  "  lean 
against  me  till  your  friend  comes  back."  The 
driver  of  the  big  car  put  on  sudden  speed  and 
disappeared  from  view. 

What  the  constable  never  could  understand 
was  the  reason  why  the  apparently  very  in- 
toxicated gentleman  thrust  a  pound  note  into 
his  hand  before  getting  into  the  taxi,  or  meant 
by  saying  : 

'Thank  you,  officer,  that's  for  being  here 
at  that  minute."  He  certainly  must  have 
been  very  far  gone  indeed. 

Geoffrey  Chadbrook  understood,  however,  and 
before  the  taxi  drew  up  at  the  house  in  Lennox 
Street,  he  knew  all  there  was  to  know  about 
Jim  Sullivan  and  his  gang,  and  he  and  Jack 
were  firm  friends. 

They  found  Edward  Denham  in  the  sitting- 
room,  reading. 

"  I'm— a— bit— before— my— time," said  Jack 
jerkily.  "  I  said— I'd  be  back— by  two— 
and  it's  not— that  yet— is  it  ?  And— please— 


ii2  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

give  me — something — to "  The  last  word 

was  lost  in  the  noise  he  made  in  falling. 

It  was  Geoffrey  Chadbrook  who  explained 
when  they  had  got  Jack  Denham  into  bed, 
and  Edward  who  listened  speechless.  When  he 
had  done,  the  elder  man  took  the  boy's  hands 
in  both  his  and  wrung  them. 

"  I've  no  words  to  thank  you  my  boy,"  he 
said,  brokenly,  "  it's  just  beyond  thanks.  It's 
no  use  ringing  up  the  police  now  and  getting 
them  on  to  that  house,  as  you  say  they  went 
long  ago." 

"  And  I  had  better  go  too.  I  told  the  taxi 
to  wait,"  said  Geoffrey. 

Edward  Denham  took  out  his  note  case 
and  extracted  a  ten  pound  note. 

"  Give  that  to  your  Scoutmaster  for  the  good 
of  the  camp,"  he  said,  "  and  here's  another 
for  yourself,  not  in  payment  for  what  you  have 
done — that  account  can  never  be  squared — 
I  wouldn't  insult  you  like  that,  but  as  a 
small  token  of  gratitude  and  respect  for  the 
pluckiest  Scout  it  has  ever  been  my  luck  to 
meet." 

The  boy  was  speechless  for  a  moment,  but 
at  the  door  he  turned. 

"  If  he's  ever  in  trouble  again,"  he  said 
huskily,  jerking  a  thumb  towards  Jack's  room, 
"  mind  you  let  me  know  and  I'll  try  and  help 
all  I  can." 

"  I  will,"  said  Edward  gravely. 

And  at  the  front  door  he  turned  again. 

"  Do   you   think   they'll   try   anything   else 


THE  HUNDREDTH   CHANCE       113 

again,  Captain  ?  "  he  asked  as  Edward  followed 
him  out  to  the  waiting  taxi. 

"  God  knows  !  I'm  afraid  so,"  was  the  reply. 
"  And  this — "  he  added,  "  is  my  affair,"  where- 
upon he  grossly  overpaid  the  taxi-driver. 


CHAPTER    IV 

THE    MODERN    BILL    SIKES 

JACK  DENHAM  leant  back  in  the  com- 
fortable first-class  carriage,  and  stared 
with  unseeing  eyes  at  the  country  as  it 
flashed  by.  He  was  on  his  way  to  Suffolk 
to  stay  with  the  Normantons,  old  friends  of 
his  brother's,  but  comparatively  new  as  far 
as  he  was  concerned,  for  he  had  only  got  to 
know  them  a  little  over  a  year  ago,  and  he 
had  accepted  an  invitation  to  spend  a  few  days 
partridge  shooting  at  Normanton  Hall.  But 
it  was  not  with  the  Normantons  that  his 
thoughts  were  busy.  He  was  thinking  of  the 
last  two  months  and  of  what  they  had  meant 
to  his  brother  Edward  and  himself.  The  first 
had  been  spent  at  Loch  Tullian,  in  Perthshire, 
the  second  he  had  divided  into  short  visits 
to  other  friends  in  Scotland,  and  finally  he  had 
come  south,  spent  an  hour  in  his  rooms  in 
Lennox  Street,  and  then  taken  the  train  to 
Normanton.  His  brother  had  gone  to  spend 
a  week  with  his  fiancee's  people,  the  Edmon- 
tons in  Kent,  and  as  Jack  sat  in  luxurious 
ease  in  the  fast  moving  train,  he  pondered, 
with  a  broad  grin  on  his  face,  over  his  brother's 
parting  words  : 

"4 


THE  MODERN  BILL  SIKES        115 

"  Look  here,  old  fellow,"  Edward  had  said, 
in  that  grave  tone  of  his,  "  for  two  months 
we've  had  no  trouble  from  Jim  Sullivan  and 
his  friends  ;  why,  I  can't  say,  unless  they  think 
it  wise  to  lie  low  ;  but  don't  you  run  away 
with  the  idea  that  you  are  safe  on  that  account. 
You  are  going  to  the  Normantons  alone  because 
I  don't  think  they  can  trace  you  from  here, 
and,  consequently  you  will  be,  so  far  as  I  can 
see,  quite  safe  anyway  for  the  time  you  are 
there.  But  if  there  should  be  more  trouble 
and  you  escape  once  more  with  your  life, 
which,  so  far,  by  three  miracles  you  have  been 
able  to  do,  remember,  it  will  be  your  last 
escapade,  and  off  you  go  for  a  long — indefinitely 
long — '  rest  cure  '  at  Dr.  Watman's  house  in 
Cornwall.  I  have  made  up  my  mind  about 
that,  and  nothing  shall  turn  me  from  it." 
And  Jack's  answer  had  been  typical : 

"  Stow  all  that  rot,  Eddy.  If  those  black- 
guards get  on  to  me  again,  far  from  skulking 
behind  twenty-foot  walls,  I  shall  take  my  life, 
and  incidentally  an  automatic  pistol  in  my 
hands,  and  go  and  hunt  them  down  myself. 
If  the  police  care  to  come  too  all  the  better 
for  me,  but  if  not  I'll  do  it  all  by  my  dear  little 
self.  So  just  you  understand,  old  man,  that 
if  I  go  to  Cornwall,  it  will  be  either  in  a  well- 
manned  police  van  or  an  ambulance  with  six 
hefty  attendants.  Nothing  short  of  that  will 
get  me  there." 

Edward  had  only  smiled,  but  Jack  knew 
what  that  smile  meant,  as  also  had  many  of 


1 16  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

our  late  enemies  some  few  years  back  to  their 
bitter  cost.  Well,  he  wouldn't  bother  about 
that  now  ;  sufficient  unto  the  day.  ...  It 
was  not  likely  he  would  come  up  against  any  of 
the  gang  at  Norman  ton  Hall.  He  rather  hoped 
he  would  see  something  of  that  ripping  young 
Boy  Scout,  Geoffrey  Chadbrook,  whose  father, 
he  knew  lived  not  many  miles  away.  A 
splendid  boy  that,  one  of  England's  best.  With 
any  luck  at  all  he  would  still  be  on  his  holidays. 

Jack  Denham  arrived  at  his  destination 
at  last.  Normanton  Hall  was  a  modern  man- 
sion, built  on  the  site  of  old  Normanton  Castle 
destroyed  by  fire  some  fifty  years  ago,  and  the 
owners,  a  young  married  couple,  were  in  tune 
with  their  surroundings.  Mrs.  Normanton,  fair, 
slim,  short-skirted  and  bare  armed,  in  spite 
of  the  chilly  atmosphere,  welcomed  him  boister- 
ously in  the  large  hall  where  tea  was  in  progress 
among  a  small  company  seated  round  a  huge 
log  fire. 

"  Real  topping  of  you  to  come,  old  bean," 
she  said,  "  but  isn't  Eddy  with  you  ?  I'm 
sure  I  asked  your  brother." 

"  You  did  ;  he  begs  to  be  excused,"  said 
Jack.  "  He  is  engaged  to  the  most  wonderful 
girl  in  the  world,  and  therefore  he  cannot 
come." 

"  I  twig.  Well,  sit  down  old  boy,  and  stuff 
some  muffins  into  your  crop.  There  are  several 
pals  here  and  one  more  to  come.  Did  you 
come  by  car  or  train  ?  ' 

"  Train,"  was  the  reply. 


THE  MODERN  BILL  SIKES         117 

"  My  giddy  aunt !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  Did 
anyone  meet  you  at  the  station  ?  ' 

"  Car  No.  3  did  me  that  honour,"  he 
replied,  nodding  to  several  waving  bare  arms 
and  grinning  faces  that  greeted  him. 

"  Oh,  well,  I  expect  Grayson  knew  about  it. 
He  reads  all  my  letters,"  said  Mrs.  Normanton, 
airily.  "Which  is  just  as  well,"  she  added, 
"  seeing  that  I  never  remember  if  I  have 
answered  them  or  not.  I  was  afraid  you  had 
had  to  walk." 

"  Which  would  apparently  have  been  all 
the  same  if  he  had,"  put  in  a  young  man  seated 
near  the  fire. 

"  What  !  You  here,  Harry  ?  "  inquired  Jack, 
with  a  grin.  "  I  thought  you  were  doing 
time  for  that  last  smash  of  yours." 

"  No,  they  let  me  off  with  a  gigantic  fine.  I've 
lived  on  charity  ever  since  ;  I'm  doing  it  now." 

"  Well,  you  seem  to  thrive  on  it,  you  greedy 
pig,"  said  a  pretty  dark  girl  who  sat  near  Jack. 
"  Don't  eat  all  the  muffins,  chuck  us  one  over 
here,"  which  Harry  Brent  wood  proceeded 
literally  to  do. 

'  You've  greased  me  all  over,  you  blighter," 
said  the  girl,  "  and  it's  a  new  frock  and  not  paid 
for." 

"  Are  they  ever  ?  "  asked  the  delinquent. 

"  Only  by  the  co-respondent,"  put  in  a  deep 
voice  from  the  direction  of  the  front  door, 
which  had  opened  without  the  party  hearing 
it,  and  Captain  Normanton,  a  tall,  soldierly 
looking  man  came  forward. 


nS  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  Who  have  we,  Dorothy  ?  "  he  went  on, 
putting  his  hand  on  his  wife's  shoulder.  "  You 
asked  this  crowd,  I  didn't." 

'  Well,  there  they  are,"  she  replied,  shaking 
his  hand  off.  "  Look  'em  over,  you'll  soon 
recognise  some  of  them,  though  I  admit  I 
hardly  knew  Cissy  in  that  coloured  hair,  and 
Tommy  vaunts  a  pointed  beard,  under  the 
impression,  I  suppose,  that  he  now  looks  like 
an  artist  instead  of,  as  formerly,  a  grocer's 
assistant." 

"Hallo,  Jack!  How's  Eddy?"  asked  the 
genial  host. 

"  That's  what  I  always  get,"  grumbled  the 
young  man,  "  instead  of  '  How  are  you  ? '  It's 
always  'How's  Eddy?' 

"  Naturally,  he's  the  best  fellow  in  the  world, 
you're  not."  The  company  laughed. 

"  Take  it  quietly,  old  son,"  murmured  Harry 
Brentwood,  "  you'll  get  back  on  him  before 
long." 

'  This  isn't  the  whole  lot,  is  it  ?  "  inquired 
Normanton,  as  he  waved  a  hand  towards  the 
group.  "  You  asked  another  blighter  or  two 
didn't  you,  girlie  ?  ' 

"  Only  one  man,  and  he  asked  himself,  but 
of  course  no  party  is  complete  without  him. 
He  gives  tone." 

"  Who  on  earth  is  this  prehistoric  ?  "  de- 
manded one  of  the  ladies  anxiously. 

"  Bob  Vincent,"  was  the  reply. 

"  By  Jove  !  "  ejaculated  Jack.  "  Do  you 
know  I  have  never  met  him  yet  ?  " 


THE  MODERN  BILL  SIKES        119 

"  Never  met  Vincent  ?  Why,  where  on  earth 
have  you  been  ?  ' 

"  Well,  generally  I  have  just  missed  him," 
said  Jack;  "  mere  chance  you  know." 

"  I'm  not  so  sure  of  that,"  put  in  Normanton, 
with  a  grin.  "  He's  a  rummy  beggar  and 
usually  asks  who  is  going  to  be  there  before 
inviting  himself.  I  expect  whenever  he  heard 
you  were  to  be  of  a  party,  he  shied  oft."  Again 
there  was  laughter  at  the  sally. 

"  Store  it  up,  Jack,  old  bean,"  murmured 
Harry,  "  you've  a  fat  time  coming.  Ha,  ha  ! 
who  rings  without  ?  ' 

"  Vincent,  I  expect,"  said  the  host  and 
strolled  towards  the  door.  A  butler  and  foot- 
man passed  hurriedly  through  and  the  front 
door  was  flung  open. 

A  slim  young  man  in  neat  blue  serge  was 
ushered  in.  Jack  gave  one  glance  at  his  face 
and  sat  silent,  too  much  astonished  to  move 
or  speak.  Bob  Vincent,  the  well  beloved  of 
all  small  parties,  who  had  the  entree  to  all 
the  best  houses,  was  none  other  than  the  young 
man  who  had  locked  the  gaming-room  door 
at  No.  18,  Staveley  Road,  and  thrown  him  a 
box  of  matches. 

A  chorus  of  welcome  greeted  the  new-comer, 
many  voices  spoke  at  once,  questions  were 
poured  out,  thus  giving  Jack  Denham  time  to 
think.  What  should  he  do  ?  Appear  to  recog- 
nise, or  meet  as  a  stranger  ?  His  insane  love 
of  adventure  and  risk  demanded  the  former, 
prudence  the  latter.  Common-sense  prevailing 


120  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

over  all,  he  decided  to  wait  and  follow  whatever 
course  Vincent  should  choose  to  adopt.  He 
had  not  long  to  wait,  Normanton  brought  the 
young  man  over  to  Jack. 

"  The  only  fellow  in  English  society  who 
dosen't  know  you,  Bob,"  he  said.  "  We  told 
him  that  he  had  never  seen  you  because  you 
avoided  any  party  of  which  he  was  a  member, 
now  confess.  Did  you  know  he  would  be  here 
or  not  ?  His  name  is  Jack  Denham." 

Vincent  looked  at  Jack  and  smiled  faintly. 
He  gave  not  the  slightest  sign  of  recognition. 

"  As  a  matter  of  fact,"  he  said,  "  Mrs.  Nor- 
manton gave  me  to  understand  that  I  should 
meet  his  brother." 

"  Did  I  ?  "  she  cried.  "And  forgot  to  mention 
Jack  !  How  priceless  !  "  Vincent  laughed. 

"  Well,  it  wouldn't  have  made  any  differ- 
ence," he  said,  "  unless  it  were  to  make  me 
more  keen  on  coming."  He  sat  down  and  took 
the  cup  of  tea  offered  him.  Jack,  still  feeling 
somewhat  dazed,  sat  in  silence  listening  to 
the  hum  of  voices.  What  did  it  mean  ?  This 
man,  the  son — no,  the  step-son  of  course,  of  old 
Mr.  Faringdon,  for  he  had  married  twice, 
no  one  knowing  quite  how  or  where  he  had 
found  his  second  wife,  who  left  much  to  be 
desired — was  well  known  in  society,  received 
everywhere,  and  yet  the  only  time  he  had  ever 
seen  him  was  in  a  gambling  hell  of  the  lowest 
description.  The  people  he  had  found  there 
were  a  gang  of  desperate  criminals  to  whom 
murder  was  a  game  and  this  fellow  was  a 


THE  MODERN  BILL  SIKES        121 

member.  Did  that  account  then  for  the 
mystery  which  always  surrounded  these  big 
robberies,  which  occurred  periodically,  generally 
in  country  houses,  always,  apparently  with  the 
connivance  of  someone  inside  ?  Certainly  it 
must,  and  was  Vincent  here  now  for  the  same 
purpose  ?  The  Normantons  were  enormously 
rich,  and  Mrs.  Normanton  the  owner  of  many 
priceless  jewels.  Of  course,  it  was  ridiculous 
to  suppose  that  the  man  only  stayed  at  private 
houses  in  order  to  rob  them.  Probably  he 
was  here  quite  innocently,  and  there  was  no 
cause  for  alarm. 

He  was  certainly  a  wonderful  actor,  for  he 
had  shown  not  the  faintest  sign  of  surprise 
or  recognition  on  seeing  Jack,  and  yet,  he  must 
have  known  him  as  well  as  Jack  knew  him. 
What  would  he  do  ?  Obviously,  whatever 
happened,  Jack  Denham's  position  in  regard 
to  this  gang  was  getting  more  dangerous. 
He  was  the  one  who  had  discovered  them, 
who  had  put  the  police  on  to  them,  who  knew, 
or  thought  he  knew  their  headquarters,  and 
now  to  crown  all  he  was  in  possession  of  the 
real  facts  regarding  Robert  Vincent.  Surely, 
did  chance  offer  or  plans  mature,  his  life  was 
not  worth  a  penny's  purchase.  What  should 
he  do  ?  Warn  Normanton  ?  No,  he  could 
not  stomach  the  incredulous  laughter  that  would 
follow,  no  one  would  believe  him.  There  was 
nothing  for  it  but  to  keep  his  mouth  shut. 
In  the  morning  he  would  telegraph  to  Harper. 
Edward  was  away,  and  he  could  not  bother 


122  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

him.  No,  that  again  would  not  do  ;  Harper 
could  do  nothing  even  if  he  came.  He  could 
set  men  to  watch,  of  course,  and  then  if  nothing 
happened,  he,  Jack,  would  be  again  laughed 
at  and  be  supposed  to  have  made  a  mistake. 
All  he  could  do  was  to  wait.  He  did  not 
suppose  that  he  himself  was  in  any  immediate 
danger,  the  fellow  wouldn't  dare  to  touch 
him  in  this  house.  It  was  afterwards.  Well, 
whatever  Edward  might  do  or  say,  when  he 
left*  here  he  would  set  out  systematically  to 
hunt  these  people  down.  He  knew  most  of 
them  by  sight,  which  the  police  did  not.  In 
the  meantime  he  could  do  nothing  but  wait 
and  watch. 

They  were  a  lively  party  at  dinner  and  Bob 
Vincent  was  evidently  in  his  element.  He 
was  hail  fellow  well  met  with  everyone,  and  yet, 
it  struck  Jack,  who  was  particularly  observant 
of  him,  that  he  lacked  something  that  the  others, 
though  they  tried  to  hide  it,  possessed.  Was 
it  polish  ?  Or  that  elusive  something  that 
was  the  distinct  attribute  of  a  gentleman  ? 
Slang  prevailed  as  a  method  of  conversation, 
and  manners  left  much  to  be  desired,  and  yet, 
though  Vincent  used  less  slang  and  appeared 
to  possess  better  manners,  there  was  something 
about  him  that  jarred.  Perhaps,  Jack  conceded, 
wishing  to  be  quite  fair,  it  was  the  knowledge 
of  what  the  true  man  really  was  that  prejudiced 
him,  and  that  only.  He  did  not  argue  the  point 
with  himself,  he  just  left  it. 

It  was  late  when  Normanton  proposed  that 


THE  MODERN  BILL  SIKES        123 

they  got  into  their  smoking  jackets  and  ad- 
journed to  the  smoking-room,  The  ladies, 
had  gone  in  a  body  to  one  of  the  girls' 
rooms,  there  to  hold  a  seance  or  some  such 
unholy  meeting,  the  girl,  Nora  Arkwright  by 
name,  declaring  herself  to  be  a  medium. 

'  We'll  leave  them  to  it  and  hold  one  of  our 
own,"  he  said.  Jack  went  to  his  room,  changed 
and  took  his  pipe.  He  had  never  stayed  at 
the  house  before,  and,  on  returning  took  the 
wrong  passage.  Some  way  down  and  before 
he  discerned  his  mistake,  he  heard  a  door 
open  and  saw  Vincent  come  out.  The  other 
stared  at  him. 

'  Where  are  you  going  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Downstairs,"  said  Jack.  He  was  not  going 
to  make  the  first  move. 

"  Then  you're  wrong,"  replied  Vincent.  "  Got 
lost  or  something  ?  Well,  follow  me."  Jack 
turned,  feeling  angry  that  he  had  been  such 
a  fool.  Was  that  Vincent's  room  then  ?  Now 
he  came  to  think  of  it  he  had  seen  him  come 
out  of  a  door  not  far  off  his  own  just  before 
dinner.  Then  the  matter  passed  from  his 
mind.  He  remembered  it  later,  however. 

It  was  just  one  o'clock  before  he  was  un- 
dressed, and  then,  as  he  was  on  the  point 
of  getting  into  bed,  there  came  a  faint  tap 
at  his  door.  He  crossed  the  room  and  opened 
it  :  Vincent  stood  outside,  fully  dressed. 

"  May  I  come  in  ?  "  he  asked  quietly. 

"  Why  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"I'll  tell  you,"  was  the  reply,   "if  you'll 


124  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

open  the  door.     Neither  you  nor  I  can  afford 
to  make  a  row  here,  my  good  fellow." 

"I'm  glad  you  admit  that,"  retorted  Jack, 
standing  aside.  "  Come  in  if  you  want  to  though 
I  fail  to  see  how  either  of  us  is  going  to  gain 
by  it." 

Robert  Vincent  crossed  over  to  the  fire- 
place and  leaned  back,  his  elbows  on  the 
mantelpiece.  He  looked  Jack  up  and  down 
and  grinned. 

'  You've  got  a  pretty  taste  in  pyjamas,"  he 
said. 

"  If  you've  come  to  discuss  my  night  wear, 
I'm  not  interested,  and  you  may  as  well  get 
out,"  replied  the  other,  slipping  on  his  dressing- 
gown  and  lighting  a  cigarette. 

"  No,  that  was  only  incidental.  I've  come 
to  discuss  far  more  important  things  than 
that.  You're  a  deuced  cool  hand,  Mr.  Jack 
Denham." 

"It's  my  line,"  he  replied,  "  I  make  a 
practice  of  it.  Let's  get  on  with  your  tale. 
When  you've  cleared  out  I  shall  have  to  open 
the  window,  and  I  want  to  go  to  bed." 

"  Don't  give  me  any  of  your  damned  cheek !  " 
said  the  other.  "  You  are  hardly  in  a  position 
for  that." 

"  I  fail  to  see  any  danger,"  retorted  Jack, 
dryly.  "  You  would  surely  not  try  any  killing 
here  for  your  own  sake,  I  should  think." 

"  I  don't  go  in  for  killing,"  was  the  reply. 
"  I  think,  perhaps,  you  may  remember  that 
at  our  last  meeting.  However,  we  will  let 


THE  MODERN  BILL  SIKES        125 

that  go.     What  I  have  come  to  see  you  for 
is  to  do  you  a  good  turn." 

"  You  amaze  me  !  "  said  Jack. 

"  You  realise,  of  course,  what  my  particular 
line  in  Jim  Sullivan's  business  is  now  ?  ' 

"  That's  why  I  propose  to  air  the  room 
after  your  exit,"  was  the  reply. 
.  "  Just  so.  Y"ou're  a  fool  to  take  that  tone, 
but  no  matter.  Perhaps  you  fail  to  see  that  in 
spotting  me  as  you  have  done,  your  own 
position  is  made  several  degrees  worse  than  it 
was  ?  " 

"  Afraid  I  don't,"  retorted  Jack,  dryly.  "  You 
are  all,  apparently,  set  on  wiping  me  out  of 
existence  as  it  is.  I  can't  see,  therefore,  what 
in  God's  name  you  can  do  more  than  that." 

"  I  admit  we  can't  do  more,"  was  the  reply; 
"  but  it  would  necessitate  its  being  done 
without  further  bungling.  Moreover,  it  would 
force  me  to  alter  my  views  on  the  subject  of 
killing." 

"  Don't  try  and  tell  me  that  Jim  Sullivan 
holds  his  hand  because  of  anything  you  may 
say,"  said  Jack,  with  a  sneer,  "  for  I  simply 
won't  believe  it,  and  lies  get  us  nowhere." 

"  Believe  it  or  not,  as  you  like.  As  a  matter 
of  fact,  I  am  far  more  useful  to  Sullivan  than 
any  of  the  others,  and  he  would  have  to  think 
pretty  hard  and  very  often  before  he  started 
in  on  doing  anything  I  didn't  approve  of. 
Up  to  now,  whether  you  believe  it  or  not,  I've 
been  against  all  this  murder  business." 

"  Ah  !     I  see,  humanitarian  methods.     Very 


126  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

admirable  indeed.  Or  is  it  that  you  find  it  pays 
better  ?  ' 

"  Look  here,  Mr.  Denham,  let's  cut  out  any 
more  word-sparring,"  said  Vincent  quietly. 
"I'm  here  to  ask  you  in  a  friendly  spirit  to 
leave  this  house  to-morrow,  and  keep  your 
mouth  shut  about  me.  I  ask  you  this  as  a 
favour." 

"  Favours  between  you  and  me,  Mr.  Vincent, 
are  a  washout,"  replied  Jack. 

"  In  that  case,  then,  I'm  afraid  I  shall  have 
to  threaten." 

"  Threats  also  leave  me  cold.  They  are,  in 
fact,  of  such  an  everyday  occurrence  now, 
and  have  become  so  much  a  part  of  my  daily 
existence  that  I  should  feel  quite  lost  without 
them.  Life  would  be  so  damned  dull,  that  I 
should  be  impelled  either  to  take  to  drink 
or  go  off  to  Mexico.  So  let's  have  the  threats, 
only  make  'em  as  short  as  you  can." 

"  My  threats  do  not  concern  you  this  time," 
was  the  cold  reply ,  "  I  leave  that  to  Jim  and  the 
others.  I  should  aim,  rather,  to  strike  at  you 
through  someone  else.  I  happen  to  know 
Miss  Aileen  Edmonton,  your  brother's  fiancee, 
fairly  well." 

Jack  stared  at  him  for  a  moment,  and  then, 
with  an  oath,  sprang  to  his  feet. 

"  By  God  !  Vincent  !  Of  course  !  You  are 
the  damned  swine  who  sent  that  wire  to  my 
brother  telling  him  that  lie  about  Aileen 's 
accident  !  He  told  me  you  were  there  ;  but 
how  should  I  or  anyone  connect  you  with  such  a 


THE  MODERN  BILL  SIKES         127 

thing  ?  You  low-down  blackguard !  Get  out 
of  this,  or  I  shan't  be  able  to  keep  my  hands 
off  you." 

"  Oh,  yes,  you  will,  Mr.  Denham,  I  take  no 
chances."  Vincent's  hand  flashed  to  his  pocket, 
and  the  next  instant  Jack  was  looking  down 
the  barrel  of  an  automatic.  "  Attempt  any 
tricks  and  you'll  drop  where  you  are.  There 
won't  be  a  sound,  and  I'll  arrange  things  to 
look  like  suicide.  It  won't  be  difficult  to 
imagine  Mr.  Jack  Denham  resorting  to  that. 
Now  sit  down." 

The  last  three  words  were  spoken  in  short, 
authoritative  tones.  Jack's  own  weapon  was 
out  of  reach  ;  there  was  nothing  for  it  but  to 
comply.  He  sat  back  on  the  bed  impotently 
fuming. 

"  Now,"  went  on  Vincent,  quietly,  "  perhaps 
you'll  be  reasonable.  My  threat  is  not  an 
idle  one,  and  I  am  going  to  make  it  quite 
clear  what  I  propose  to  do.  Miss  Aileen 
Edmonton  and  I  are  quite  good  friends.  It 
would  be  simple  and  easy  in  these  days  of 
anti-chaperonage  to  arrange  a  meeting,  prefer- 
ably in  London.  A  little  journey  in  Jim 
Sullivan's  car  out  to  his  abode  of  bliss,  and 
when  I  had  done  with  Miss  Edmonton,  she 

would However,  I  leave  the  rest 

to  your  fertile  imagination.  Now,  how  does 
that  strike  you  as  an  idea  ?  ' 

"  Hanging  is  too  good  for  you,  Vincent," 
said  Jack,  hoarsely.  "  Get  out  of  this  room 
or  I  must." 


128  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  Remember,  I  don't  want  to  do  this,"  went 
on  Vincent,  ignoring  the  other's  remarks.  "  I 
only  suggest  it  as  an  alternative  to  your  holding 
your  tongue  about  me.  Of  course,  I  know 
you  will  make  it  your  business  to  warn  the  girl, 
but  that  won't  help  her  much.  There  are 
plenty  of  ways  of  getting  hold  of  her,  believe 
me.  Now,  what  do  you  say  ?  Will  you  get 
out  of  here  to-morrow  and  give  me  your  word 
to  keep  your  mouth  shut  about  me  ?  Mark 
this — I  trust  you.  I  know  very  well  that  you 
never  went  back  on  us  in  the  first  place,  and 
the  girl  Molly  knows  it  too  ;  but  one  can't 
expect  the  others  to  believe  that  ;  they  couldn't 
be  straight  themselves,  and  they  wouldn't  give 
anyone  else  the  credit.  But  I  know,  and  I'll 
trust  you.  Come,  is  it  a  deal  ?  '  Jack  swal- 
lowed hard.  Had  the  threat  concerned  himself 
alone  the  answer  would  have  been  easy  ;  but 
since  it  was  Eddy's  girl  who  would  suffer — 
and  he  was  not  such  a  fool  as  to  doubt  the 
possibilities  of  Vincent's  carrying  it  through- 
it  was  quite  another  matter. 

'  I'll— I'll  think  it  over,"  he  said  at  last. 

"  Well,  that's  only  fair.  I'll  see  you  in  the 
morning  after  breakfast,  and  when  you  have 
decided  what  you  will  do  I  shall  expect  you 
to  obey  my  orders  and  get  out  of  here  to- 
morrow." 

"  That,"  said  Jack  quietly,  "  I'll  be  damned 
if  I  do." 

"  Very  well,  then  it's  up  to  me  to  make  you, 
and  I  think  you'll  regret  it,  my  good  fellow. 


THE  MODERN  BILL  SIKES         129 

When  I've  done  with  you  here  you  will  find 
that  among  your  friends  your  word  won't  go 
for  anything.  So  if  you  tried  to  denounce 
me  to  them  they  simply  wouldn't  listen  to  you. 
You  always  had  a  record  for  wildness.  There 
were  one  or  two  adventurous  incidents  in  your 
life  that  were  never  properly  explained.  Your 
brother's  name,  of  course,  goes,  but  you  are 
not  so  well  thought  of,  and  you  know  it  to  be 
true  too,  don't  you  ?  ' 

Jack  was  silent.  It  was  certainly  true  that 
he  had  got  mixed  up  with  a  lot  of  rather  ques- 
tionable characters  a  year  or  so  ago,  and  they 
had  done  some  wild  and  foolish  things  and  got 
talked  about,  much  to  his  brother's  disgust 
and  chagrin.  All  that  was  over,  of  course, 
but  not  forgotten,  and  therein  lay  the  trouble. 

'  Well,  never  mind  answering,"  said  Vincent, 
with  a  grin,  "  that's  your  funeral.  Now  you 
can  get  to  bed  and  think  over  the  answer  to 
that  other  question.  If  I  were  you  I  wouldn't 
care  to  have  on  my  conscience  the  results 
of  a  refusal."  He  went  out,  closing  the  door 
noiselessly  behind  him. 

Jack  Denham  spent  a  sleepless  night  and 
went  down  to  breakfast  looking  and  feeling 
fagged  out.  Captain  Normanton  and  his  wife 
entered  the  dining-room  five  minutes  after  him, 
and  one  glance  at  their  faces  told  him  that 
something  serious  had  happened. 

'  Hallo  !  "     exclaimed     Harry    Brentwood. 
'  What's  up  ?    Backed  a  wrong  'un,  old  man  ?  ' 

"No,"   replied   Normanton,   gravely,    "I'm 


130  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

afraid  it's  worse  than  that.  In  fact  it's  rather 
a  serious  matter,  and  in  any  case  a  very  un- 
pleasant thing  to  have  to  tell  you.  The  fact 
is  there  has  been  a  robbery  here."  He  went 
on,  gravely,  "  not  from  outside,  but  from 
within  the  house.  All  windows  are  shuttered 
and  barred,  all  doors  locked  and  bolted,  so 
no  one  could  have  got  in  ;  and  yet  a  valuable 
string  of  pearls,  and  a  set  of  opal  and  diamond 
ornaments,  comprising  necklace,  ear-rings  and 
brooch,  have  been  taken  from  one  of  the 
drawers  in  my  wife's  dressing-table,  which 
was  locked  before  dinner  and  has  been  locked 
until  this  morning,  she  possessing  the  only  key 
which  hangs  on  a  chain  she  wears  round  her 
neck." 

There  was  a  gasp  of  astonishment.  Jack, 
realising  the  full  significance  of  what  this 
meant,  glanced  at  Vincent  who  had  come  in 
a  moment  before. 

"  But  who  could  have  taken  them  ?  "  cried 
Nora  Arkwright,  breathlessly. 

'  That  remains  to  be  seen,"  was  the  reply. 
"  The  theft  must  have  taken  place  sometime 
between  dinner  and  when  Dorothy  went  to 
bed.  None  of  the  servants  live  in  this  part 
of  the  house,  and  they  are  all  respectable 
honest  folk  who  have  been  with  us  since  our 
marriage.  I  may  say  they  have  all  agreed 
to  have  their  boxes  and  rooms  searched." 

"  That's  what  must  certainly  and  most 
rightly  happen  to  us,"  said  Harry  Brentwood, 
gravely. 


THE  MODERN  BILL  SIKES        131 

"  Of  course  !  "  cried  Nora,  and  the  rest 
agreed  unanimously. 

"By  all  means,"  said  Jack,  still  with  his 
eyes  on  Vincent's  face. 

'  You  see,"  put  in  Mrs.  Normanton,  in  a 
shaky  voice,  "  it  puts  you  all  in  such  a  horrible 
position,  and  I  hate  the  idea  of  a  search  being 

made,  but "  She  held  out  her  arms 

appealingly.  "  What  am  I  to  do  ?  ' 

"  Do  !  Why,  my  blessed  child,"  cried  Nora, 
putting  her  arms  round  her  friend's  neck,  "  it's 
the  only  thing  to  do  and  we  all  welcome  it. 
Let's  do  it  systematically,  and  do  it  now. 
You  ransack  the  girls'  rooms  and  Arthur  the 
men's.  You  haven't  called  in  the  police, 
Arthur,  I  suppose  ?  "  she  went  on,  to  Normanton. 

"  No,"  he  said,  "  I  want  to  avoid  that  if 
possible." 

And  then  Jack  took  a  sudden  resolution. 
Convinced,  of  course,  that  Vincent  had  stolen 
the  jewels,  he  considered  that  there  might 
be  the  faint  chance  that  if  he  spoke  now  he 
might  be  believed.  At  any  rate  he  would 
take  the  risk  on  the  chance  of  winning. 

"  Look  here,  Normanton,"  he  said,  quietly, 
"  if  you  want  to  save  yourself  trouble,  and  your 
guests  anxiety,  unnecessary  anxiety,  you  will 
begin  your  search  in  Mr.  Robert  Vincent's 
room." 

All  eyes  were  turned  upon  him  in  utter 
astonishment.  Harry  Brent  wood,  who  thought 
it  was  a  joke,  laughed  out,  but  Normanton 
frowned  him  to  silence  and  turned  to  Jack. 


132  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  Pardon  me,  Denham,  I'm  afraid  I  didn't 
catch  what  you  said.  "Would  you  mind  repeating 
it?  ' 

"  I  suggested,"  replied  Jack,  urbanely,  "  that 
you  saved  yourself  trouble  by  searching  Mr. 
Vincent's  room  first,  and  I  add  now,  that  if 
you  draw  blank  there,  you  search  his  person." 

Mrs.  Normanton  gave  a  little  cry. 

"  My  dear  Mr.  Denham,  are  you  quite 
mad  ?  ': 

"  Perfectly  sane,"  he  replied.  "  If  you  will 
do  as  I  advise  you  will  be  convinced  of  my 
sanity."  Robert  Vincent  laughed,  a  very  dis- 
agreeable laugh  it  was. 

"  I  say,"  he  said,  "  don't  you  think  it  would 
be  better  if  you  asked  the  ladies  to  go  away  ? 
It  strikes  me  that  there  is  going  to  be  quite 
a  lot  of  trouble  coming  along.  We  know  Mr. 
Jack  Denham 's  reputation  for  eccentricity — 
I  think  I  am  kind  in  putting  it  that  way — 
but  he  appears  to  me  to  be  rather  over-stepping 
the  mark." 

"  You're  right,  Bob,"  replied  Normanton, 
gravely.  "If  you  please,  ladies.  .  .  ."  He 
opened  the  door,  and  reluctantly  they  went 
out,  amazement  depriving  them  for  the  moment 
of  the  power  to  protest. 

"  Now,  Denham,"  said  Normanton,  sharply, 
"  what's  all  this  ?  Are  you  accusing  my  friend, 
Bob  Vincent,  of  stealing  my  wife's  jewels, 
or  have  you,  by  any  chance,  been  drinking, 
and  are  not  responsible  for  what  you  are 
saying  ?  " 


THE  MODERN  BILL  SIKES         133 

"  I  don't  drink,"  was  the  reply,  "  and  I  am 
accusing  Mr.  Vincent.  I  happen  to  have  seen 
him  coming  out  of  your  wife's  room  last  night 
when  we  went  up  to  get  into  our  smoking- 
jackets." 

"  And  might  I  ask  what  you  were  doing 
near  my  wife's  room  ?  "  demanded  the  other. 
"  Your  own  room  is  down  another  passage 
and  nowhere  near  hers." 

"  I  lost  my  way,"  replied  Jack.  Normanton 
laughed. 

"  Not  good  enough,  I'm  afraid,"  he  said, 
dryly.  "As  a  matter  of  fact  Vincent  has 
already  informed  me  of  your  appearance  along 
that  passage  and  of  the  natural  construction 
he  put  on  it  after  our  discovery  this  morning. 
You  don't  imagine  I  should  be  such  a  fool  as 
to  take  your  word  before  his,  do  you  ?  Bob 
and  I  have  known  each  other  for  a  good  long 
time  ;  I  met  you  for  the  first  time  last  year, 
but  I  had  heard  of  you  before  that."  There 
was  a  palpable  sneer  in  his  voice  as  he  said 
this. 

Harry  Brent  wood  laughed. 

"  Good  Lord,  Denham,"  he  said,  "what 
a  damned  fool  you  are ! "  The  other  guest, 
Thomas  Cobb,  went  to  the  door. 

'  Please  excuse  me,  Normanton,"  he  said, 
"  I'd  rather  be  let  off  hearing  the  rest."  His 
friend  nodded  and  the  door  closed.  Jack 
squared  his  shoulders. 

"  Are  you  going  to  search  Vincent's  room  ?  '' 
he  demanded.  "  Do  you  think  I  would  make 


134  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

such  an  accusation  if  I  hadn't  something  to 
back  it?" 

"  I  don't  care  a  damn  what  you  think  you've 
got,"  was  the  reply.  '  You  have  made  the 
accusation,  and  the  only  thing  left  for  me 
is  to  do  as  you  suggest.  If  you  will  excuse 
the  impertinence,  Bob,"  he  added. 

"  Carry  on,  old  man,  I  wish  it.  But  if,  by 
any  miraculous  chance  you  should  draw  blank, 
I  think  you  owe  it  to  me  to  repeat  the  same 
process  with  regard  to  Denham  and  his  room." 

'  That's  all  I  ask,"  said  Jack. 

'  Then  we'll  do  it  at  once,"  replied  Norman- 
ton.  "  Kindly  stop  here,  Harry." 

"  Right.  Call  out  when  you  are  ready  to 
go  over  my  own  belongings." 

They  went  upstairs.  Jack  Denham  and 
Vincent  stood  inside  the  latter's  room  while 
Normanton  made  a  thorough  and  systematic 
search.  Then  he  passed  his  hands  deftly  over 
his  body,  and  into  every  pocket.  When  finally 
he  had  done  he  turned  to  Jack. 

"  Are  you  satisfied  ?  "  he  demanded. 

"  Not  in  the  least,"  said  Jack.  "  He  is 
cleverer  than  I  thought  him,  that's  all." 

Normanton  turned  on  his  heel  and  they 
proceeded  to  Jack's  apartment  and  closed  the 
door.  Then  Normanton  turned  to  him. 

"  Look  here,"  he  said,  "  I  don't  know  what 
game  you  are  playing,  unless  it's  meant  for  a 
joke — a  damned  bad  joke,  by  the  way — but 
if  so  you  had  better  own  up.  Vincent  saw  you 
coming  along  that  passage  you  know." 


THE  MODERN  BILL  SIKES         135 

Jack  was  silent.  The  meaning  of  all  this 
had  dawned  on  him  at  last.  Vincent  was, 
of  course,  trying  to  bring  suspicion  on  him, 
but  to  what  lengths  would  he  go  ?  Jack 
decided  to  stick  to  his  guns. 

"  I  was  certainly  there  by  mistake,"  he  said, 
"  but  Vincent  was  there  with  intention,  for  I 
saw  him  coming  out  of  your  wife's  room." 
Normanton  regarded  him  sternly  and  suddenly 
frowned. 

"  Come,  man,  that  won't  work.  Now  own 
up  ;  if  you  have  been  at  some  of  your  practical 
jokes,  say  so.  You  know  what  a  reputation 
you  had  for  that  sort  of  thing.  If  you  have 
done  anything  foolish  for  a  joke  or  a  wager, 
tell  me  now  before  we  go  through  your  things, 
there's  a  good  fellow." 

"  You  mean  to  imply  that  I  have  taken 
the  jewels  then,  do  you  ?  "  demanded  Jack, 
angrily.  '  Why,  I  won't  even  trouble  to  deny 
it.  You  must  be  mad  !  I  tell  you  I  saw 

Vincent " 

'  That's  enough,"  broke  in  Normanton, 
sharply.  He  commenced  turning  out  drawers 
and  cupboards.  Jack  watched  him  go  through 
his  things  wondering  what  would  be  the 
end  of  it.  He  had  failed  in  his  accusation 
against  Vincent ;  what  had  Vincent  in  store 
for  him  ? 

He  was  not  kept  long  in  doubt,  for  Nor- 
manton, having  finished  with  the  furniture 
and  clothes,  seized  upon  and  opened  the  dress- 
ing bag,  and  there,  wrapped  up  in  some 


136  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

handkerchiefs,  were  the  missing  jewels  and 
with  them  a  skeleton  key. 

Normanton  swore  under  his  breath  and 
looked  at  Jack  who  was,  for  the  moment, 
too  shaken  to  move  or  speak.  There  was  a 
painful  silence,  broken  at  length  by  a  harsh 
laugh  from  Jack. 

"  Someone  besides  myself  then  is  given  to 
practical  joking,"  he  said,  grimly.  "  Of  course, 
I  need  hardly  tell  you  I  never  took  the  things." 

"  I  see,"  said  the  other  quietly,  "  even 
against  this  evidence  you  deny  your  guilt. 
Vincent  warned  me  to  expect  this." 

"  Of  course  he  did,"  said  Jack,  "  he  pui 
them  there." 

Normanton  laughed. 

"  I  have  known  him  for  some  time,"  he 
said  dryly.  "  I  have  known  you  for  a  year 
only,  and  in  that  year  seen  precious  little  of 
you." 

"  If  you  will  only  think  sensibly  for  a 
moment,"  said  Jack,  "  you  will  see  your  mistake. 
What  should  I,  a  rich  man,  want  to  steal 
jewellery  for  ?  Jewellery  that  I  would  find  it 
impossible  to  get  rid  of  or  convert  into  cash  ? 
Just  tell  me  that." 

"  I  don't  say  you  took  them  for  that  purpose," 
said  the  other.  "  Possibly  it  was  your  idea  of 
a  joke,  or  it  was  done  for  a  wager  and  you 
would,  in  time,  have  returned  them.  But  to 
my  mind  that  is  enough.  On  the  face  of  it 
such  an  act  is  outside  the  limit,  seeing  what 
results  from  it — suspicion,  doubt,  anxiety. 


THE  MODERN  BILL  SIKES         137 

No  one,  I  mean  no  decent  man  would  stand 
for  that  even  to  satisfy  a  debauched  taste 
in  practical  joking.  It  was  the  act  of  a  man 
of  whom  I  wish  to  know  nothing  more.  Fur- 
thermore, the  way  you  have  tried  to  fasten 
the  guilt  on  to  Bob  Vincent  is  enough.  For 
your  brother's  sake  I  will  try  to  keep  your 
name  out  of  this,  and  tell  the  others  that  the 
jewels  have  been  found  ;  but  I  must  ask  you 
to  leave  my  house  at  once.  The  car  will  take 
you  to  the  station." 

"  Then  you  won't  believe  me  ?  "  said  Jack, 
suddenly  feeling  acutely  the  horrible  position 
he  was  in.  "If  I  swear  to  you  on  my 
honour "  Normanton  stopped  him. 

"  Don't  say  anything  more,  let  us  leave  it 
at  that.  The  car  will  be  round  in  an  hour 
and  my  man  will  pack  your  things.  You 
had  better  go  to  my  study  and  remain  there, 
no  one  will  disturb  you.  Bob,  old  fellow, 
come  with  me."  Then  he  left  him,  and  Jack 
realised  only  too  well  now  the  meaning  of 
Vincent's  threat  last  night.  At  best  he  had 
lost  good  friends  in  the  Normantons.  At  the 
worst,  the  other  guests,  seeing  him  depart 
suddenly  would  know  or  guess  what  had 
happened.  At  any  rate,  it  showed  how  futile 
it  was  to  try  and  convince  people  of  Vincent's 
true  nature.  The  very  fact  of  his  having 
tried  to  do  so  had  damned  him  utterly  in 
Normanton 's  eyes.  He  went  to  the  small 
study  downstairs  and  flung  himself  dejectedly 
into  an  arm-chair. 


138  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

Ten  minutes  later  Robert  Vincent  came  in 
and  stood  looking  down  at  him. 

"  Well,  you've  made  a  pretty  blithering  fool 
of  yourself,  haven't  you  ?  " 

"  Curse  you,  get  out  of  here ! "  said  Jack, 
angrily. 

"  I'll  go  as  soon  as  I've  got  an  answer  to  the 
question  I  put  last  night,"  was  the  reply. 

"  All  right,"  said  Jack,  in  utter  disgust, 
"  I  see  you  are  outside  the  limit  and  capable 
of  any  crime  so  long  as  it  is  vile  enough.  If 
I  were  the  only  one  to  lose,  I'd  tell  you  to  go  to 
hell  and  do  your  damnedest.  As  it  is,  I  can't 
take  the  risk  of  letting  Eddy  or  his  girl  suffer, 
so  I'll  hold  my  tongue.  Now  get  out  unless 
you  prefer  to  be  thrown  out." 

"  Stop  a  bit,  that's  not  good  enough,  I  want 
your  oath."  He  crossed  over  to  a  bookshelf, 
looked  along  the  shelves,  found  what  he  sought 
and  held  a  leather  bound  book  out  to  Jack. 
"  Stand  up,"  he  said,  "  and  hold  this." 

"  If  you  weren't  all  sorts  of  a  blazing  fool 
as  well  as  the  biggest  rogue  unhanged,"  ob- 
served Jack,  contemptuously,  "  you  would 
know  that  my  word  is  as  good  as  my  bond 
any  old  day ;  but  if  it  makes  your  neck  feel 
safer  and  insures  you  taking  your  damned  and 
filthy  carcase  out  of  here,  I'll  oblige."  He 
took  the  Book  in  his  hand. 

"  Try  and  keep  your  temper,  my  man," 
said  Vincent,  "  and  be  good  enough  to  repeat 
this  after  me  :  '  I,  Jack  Denham,  swear  on 
this  Bible  that  I  will  never  inform  the  police, 


THE  MODERN  BILL  SIKES         139 

my  brother,  nor  any  living  soul  of  what  I  know 
concerning  Robert  Vincent,  either  now  or  at 
any  other  time,  so  help  me,  God.'  That's 
settled  then,"  he  went  on  as  he  returned  the 
Bible  to  its  place  on  the  shelf.  "  And  now  I, 
in  my  turn,  will  swear  to  leave  your  brother 
alone  and  also  his  fiancee,  Miss  Edmonton, 
and  further,  I  undertake  to  make  Jim  Sullivan 
and  the  others  keep  their  hands  off  her.  I 
don't  imagine  for  a  second  that  you  consider 
my  word  of  any  value,  but,  strange  as  it  may 
seem,  it's  a  weakness  of  mine  to  stand  by  it ; 
and,  stranger  still,  the  same  applies  to  Jim 
Sullivan.  Well,  you'll  be  going  soon.  By 
Jove,  Denham,  I  wouldn't  care  to  be  you." 
And  with  this  parting  shot  he  left  him. 

Half  an  hour  later  Jack  Denham  left  Nor- 
manton  Hall  unnoticed.  But  had  all  the  guests 
been  gathered  round  to  see  him  off,  and  stare 
their  silent  disapproval,  he  could  not  have  felt 
more  sick  at  heart.  The  news  of  his  dishonour 
would  get  to  Eddy's  ears  one  day,  and  if  he 
kept  his  oath  to  Vincent,  which  of  course  he 
would,  he  could  not  clear  himself.  However, 
life  at  present  was  so  very  uncertain  as  far 
as  he  was  concerned,  that  it  was  hardly  worth 
while  to  brood  over  other  possibilities,  and 
with  his  usual  buoyancy,  by  the  time  he  reached 
the  station  he  had  recovered  from  his  fit  of 
depression  and  was  ready  to  face  anything. 

The  up  train  came  in.  He  entered  a  first 
class  compartment  and  in  another  minute 
they  were  off.  Hearing  a  shout  from  the 


140  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

platform,  and  running  feet,  he  put  his  head 
out,  and  there,  to  his  surprise  and  pleasure, 
he  saw  his  young  friend,  Geoffrey  Chadbrook, 
running  for  all  he  was  worth.  He  opened  the 
carriage  door,  held  out  a  hand  and  dragged 
him  in.  The  breathless  boy  wrung  his  hand. 

"  I  wasn't  going  by  train,"  he  gasped,  "  only 
I  saw  the  Norman  ton  car  and  followed.  The 
shuvver  told  me  it  was  you,  so  I  thought  I'd 
have  a  jaw  before  you  went.  I've  got  no 
money,  Mr.  Denham,  what's  going  to  happen  ?  " 

"  That's  all  right,  old  son,"  said  Jack.  "  If  I 
can't  stand  you  a  return  ticket,  I'd  better  lie 
down  and  die  now.  I'll  send  a  wire  to  your 
people  at  the  next  stop.  How  is  it  you  aren't 
at  school,  sonny  ?  ' 

"Oh,  I  got  ill  and  am  having  a  month 
extra,"  was  the  reply.  "  I'm  quite  well  really, 
you  know,  only  the  mater  won't  let  me  go 
back  until  she  thinks  I  am.  You  know  how 
one's  mater  always  fusses.  Not  that  I  mind, 
though  there's  not  much  to  do  by  myself." 

A  thought  suddenly  struck  Jack  Denham. 

'  Well,"  he  said,  handing  him  his  cigarette 
case,  "  if  you're  on  the  dole  just  at  present, 
I  think  I've  got  a  job  for  you  that  might  be 
in  your  line." 

"  I  say,  you  are  a  sport,  Mr.  Denham," 
exclaimed  Geoffrey,  grinning. 

"  My  name's  Jack,"  said  the  other,  "  if  you'll 
so  far  honour  me." 

"  Right  you  are.     Well,  what  is  it,  Jack  ?  ' 

"I've  just  been  hoofed  out  of  Normanton 


THE  MODERN  BILL  SIKES         141 

Hall,"  said  Jack,  grimly.  The  boy  jumped 
in  his  seat. 

"  Good  Lord  !     Why  ?  " 

"  I  can't  tell  you  why ;  you'll  probably  get 
to  hear.  What  I  am  going  to  ask  you  to  do  is 
rather  a  big  thing,  old  son."  He  paused. 

"  Get  on,  Jack,  spit  it  out." 

"  I  want  you  to  believe  me  when  I  tell  you 
most  solemnly  that  I  am  absolutely  innocent 
of  what  I  am  accused,  and  not  to  believe  a 
word  you  may  hear  from  those  staying  at  Nor- 
manton.  I  don't  mean  to  infer  that  they 
are  lying  ;  they  are  mistaken,  that's  all." 

"  I  say  Jack,"  said  the  boy,  "  I  thought 
you  said  you  were  asking  a  big  thing  of  me." 

"  So  I  am,  in  the  face  of  all  the  evidence 
you  will  hear." 

'  Well,  I  call  it  just  a  beastly  rotten  thing 
to  say,"  was  the  reply.  "  If  they've  turned 
you  out  it  must  be  a  pretty  rotten  thing  you 
are  supposed  to  have  done,  and  I  know  Captain 
Denham's  brother  would  never  do  that."  He 
held  out  his  hand,  his  eyes  suddenly  brimming 
with  tears,  and  Jack  grasped  it. 

'  Thank  you,  old  man,"  he  said,  and  then 
with  a  laugh  :  "  What  an  asset  in  my  wild 
career  to  have  a  brother  like  Eddy  !  All  the 
same,  you're  a  stout  fellow,  and  I'm  jolly 
proud  to  know  you."  There  was  a  pause, 
and  both  looked  out  of  the  window  at  the 
flying  landscape.  "  Do  you  happen  to  know 
Robert  Vincent  by  any  chance  ?  "  asked  Jack 
presently. 


142  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  Yes  I  do,  I  think  he's  a  rotter,  I  never 
could  stick  him,"  was  the  reply.  '  My  dad 
can't  either,  he  doesn't  like  the  colour  of  his 
ties  or  socks  " 

"  Oh,  doesn't  he  ?  Well,"  said  Jack  dryly, 
"I've  got  one  or  two  little  things  of  the  same 
kind  against  him  too.  You  say  you've  got 
a  month  more  to  run  loose  in  ?  " 

"  About  a  fortnight  now." 

"  Well,  I  wonder  if  you  could  find  out  when 
this  Vincent  leaves  Normanton  and,  if  he  goes 
to  London,  follow  him  ?  ' 

"  Rather !  I  should  just  think  I  could. 
It  sounds  spiffing,  sort  of  Sherlock  Holmes 
stunt  you  mean  ?  ' 

"  That's  it,  you  get  my  meaning  completely. 
Only  you  must  not  be  seen."  The  boy  grinned. 
'  Trust  a  Scout,"  he  said. 

"  I  do.  Well,  I'll  leave  the  details  to  you. 
I  can't  manage  it  myself  or  I  would.  What 
I  want  you  to  do  is  to  find  out  where  he  goes 
when  he  lands  in  London.  I  rather  think 
he'll  go  out  Barnet  way,  but  wherever  it  is 
do  you  think  you  can  follow  ?  " 

"  Just  try  me,  that's  all." 

"  Very  well ;  when  you  know,  just  send  a 
line  to  my  address.  You  know  that  all  right, 
and  here's  a  fiver  to  defray  ex's." 

'  It  won't  take  all  that,"  said  Geoffrey. 

"  That's  all  right,  old  son,  if  there's  any 
over,  blow  it  on  yourself.  But  whatever  you 
do,  don't  say  a  word  of  this  to  a  living  soul. 
Is  that  understood  ?  " 


THE  MODERN  BILL  SIKES        143 

'  You  can  trust  me,"  said  the  boy  again, 
and  pocketed  the  notes. 

Jack  Denham  returned  to  his  rooms  in 
Lennox  Street  and  lay  low.  It  was  dull  but 
necessary,  and  he  bore  it  patiently.  Three 
days  later  he  received  a  letter. 

"  DEAR  JACK, — 

Vincent  bunked  it  this  morning.  I 
followed.  He  took  the  Underground,  I 
after  him  and  got  out  at  Golders  Green. 
There  was  a  big  car  waiting  for  him, 
driven  by  a  very  tall  clean-shaven 
blighter,  and  they  were  off  like  the  shot 
out  of  a  gun.  I  couldn't  follow  as  there 
wasn't  a  taxi  anywhere,  and  even  if  I  had 
taken  my  bike,  I  couldn't  have  kept  up 
with  them.  I  hope  this  is  of  any  use 
to  you.  I  haven't  heard  any  talk  about 
you  yet,  but  when  I  do  I'm  ready  for 
them." 

Jack  wrote  his  profuse  thanks.  So  it  was 
Colder 's  Green,  not  Barnet  after  all,  and  Harper 
had  been  right.  Well,  this  very  day  he  would 
start  in  to  hunt  on  his  own  account.  He  rang 
the  bell  for  Jenkins. 

"  I  shall  be  out  all  day,  Jenkins,"  he  said. 
"So  you  can  take  the  day  off." 

'  Very  good,  sir,  thank  you." 

"  If  Harper  rings  up  and  wants  to  know 
where  I  am,  tell  your  wife  to  say  I'm  doing 
London  on  the  top  of  a  bus." 


144  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  Yes,  sir.  Not  up  to  anything  risky  are 
you,  sir  ?  The  captain  told  me  to  be  sure 
and " 

"  Jenkins,  you  can  go  to  the  devil,"  said 
Jack  irritably. 

"  Very  good,  sir,"  replied  Jenkins. 


CHAPTER  V 

THE   LADY   OF  THE  TELEPHONE 

"     /4        MAN    called    this    afternoon   to   see 

/\  to  the  electric  light,  sir,"  said 
JL  JL  Jenkins,  as  Jack  Denham  entered 
his  flat  in  Lennox  Street. 

"  Oh  !  "  said  Jack.  "  Is  there  anything 
wrong  with  the  light  ?  I  didn't  know  it." 

"  I  think  it  was  Captain  Denham 's  order, 
sir,  so  I  understood  ;  he  said  that  extra  lights 
were  wanted  in  your  room  and  the  sitting- 
room,  sir." 

"  Ah  !  I  see.  Well  it  won't  do  any  harm 
if  there  are." 

"  He  took  the  measurements,  sir,"  went 
on  Jenkins,  "  and  left  a  box  containing  tubing 
and  tools  and  will  call  to-morrow  to  fix  it  up." 

"  All  right,  Jenkins,  toddle  off  and  get  me 
something  to  eat.  I'm  dog  tired  and  beastly 
hungry." 

"  Very  good,  sir.  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir," 
said  Jenkins  at  the  door,  '  but  would  it 
inconvenience  you  if  my  wife  went  out  to- 
night and  stayed  with  her  sister  ?  My  son, 
'Erbert  has  left  his  place  and  is  staying  with 
his  aunt  and  the  wife  would  like  to  see  him." 


146  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  By  all  means,"  replied  Jack.  "  You  can 
see  to  things  all  right,  my  wants  are  few." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,  I'm  much  obliged,  sir." 
The  dapper  little  man,  a  perfect  servant,  and 
invaluable  treasure  to  the  two  brothers  with- 
drew, closing  the  door  noiselessly  after  him. 

It  was  a  warm  night  in  early  October  and 
Jack  opened  the  window  and  flung  himself 
into  an  arm-chair.  He  had  spent  the  entire 
day  in  a  fruitless  search  at  Colder 's  Green  for 
any  signs  of  Jim  Sullivan  and  his  gang,  or 
any  information  he  could  learn  concerning 
them.  His  little  friend,  Geoffrey  Chadbrook, 
had  told  him  he  had  traced  Robert  Vincent, 
whom,  in  his  own  mind  he  designated  as  the 
"  Raffles  "  of  the  gang,  to  Golder's  Green  and 
there  lost  him.  So  far  as  Jack  had  been  able 
to  discover,  no  such  person,  at  least  no  one 
of  the  name  of  James  Sullivan  lived  there. 
But  then,  of  course,  it  was  not  likely  that 
he  would  go  under  his  real  name.  He  had 
discovered  many  houses  that  might  very  well 
have  been  the  dwelling-place  of  this  gang,  one 
in  particular,  half  a  mile  into  the  country 
struck  him  as  a  likely  place.  It  stood  alone 
in  its  own  grounds,  fifty  yards  back  from  the 
main  road,  and  appeared  to  be  of  an  older 
date  than  most  of  the  others.  But  on  making 
inquiry,  he  learned  that  it  was  owned  by  a 
Mr.  Brandscome  of  private  means,  whose  wife 
was  a  semi-invalid,  but  who  entertained  a 
good  deal.  He  certainly  kept  a  car,  but  no 
chauffeur,  as  his  wife's  brother,  who  lived 


THE  LADY  OF  THE  TELEPHONE  147 

with  him  always  drove.  Jack,  tired  out, 
returned  home,  but  made  up  his  mind  to  go 
out  there  on  the  following  evening,  and  after 
dark  make  a  more  minute  examination  of 
the  house.  In  the  meantime  he  was  deter- 
mined not  to  tell  Inspector  Harper,,  until  he 
was  quite  certain  of  his  quarry,  for  he  felt 
sure  that  the  police  would  probably  bungle, 
and  the  birds  be  flown  before  anything  could 
be  done.  He  knew  all  the  gang,  five  of  them 
and  the  two  women  by  sight,  and  he  was  far 
more  likely,  in  his  own  opinion  that  is,  to 
make  a  successful  search.  He  ate  his  meal, 
sent  over  from  a  restaurant,  with  a  contented 
mind,  and  afterwards  dozed  in  an  arm-chair. 
His  brother  Edward,  he  calculated  was  not 
due  back  from  Kent  for  another  three  days, 
so  he  would  have  that  time  in  which  to  work. 
He  woke  with  a  start  as  Jenkins  came  in  with 
decanter  and  syphon  and  placed  them  on  the 
table  in  the  centre  of  the  room. 

"  Is  there  anything  further  to-night,  sir  ?  " 
asked  the  little  man. 

"  No  thanks,  Jenkins.  I'll  turn  in  myself, 
soon.  Good  night." 

"  Good  night,  sir,  thank  you,  sir."  The 
door  closed.  Jenkins  retired  to  his  room  over- 
head and  silence  reigned. 

Jack  poured  himself  out  a  whisky  and 
soda  and  sipped  it  in  luxurious  comfort.  Then 
once  more  dozed  off. 

Again  he  awoke  with  a  start,  and  glancing 
at  the  clock  in  the  corner  saw  that  it  was 


148  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

after  twelve.  What  had  awakened  him  so 
suddenly  ?  Something  he  had  heard — yes, 
there  it  was  again,  it  sounded  like  water  drip- 
ping on  metal  and  it  came  from  the  middle 
of  the  room.  He  got  up  and  listened.  Drip, 
drip,  drip.  He  glanced  at  the  silver  tray  on 
which  the  decanter  stood,  and  saw — was  it 

red    ink  ?    Or .     He  looked    up    suddenly 

at  the  ceiling  and  uttered  a  cry  of  horror. 
A  dark  red  stain  was  spreading  slowly  across 
the  whiteness  of  the  plaster,  and  every  half 
second  came  the  sound  of  the  drip,  drip  upon 
the  tray  as  it  fell.  Blood  !  There  was  no 
doubt  about  that,  and  coming  from  Jenkins' 
room.  He  tore  out  of  the  room  and  bounded 
upstairs,  burst  open  the  door  of  Jenkins'  room 
and  ran  in.  The  room  was  in  darkness  and 
he  switched  on  the  light.  Another  cry  of 
horror  escaped  him  and  he  dropped  on  his 
knees  beside  the  huddled  body  on  the  floor. 
Jenkins,  good,  faithful  Jenkins  !  And  quite 
dead.  Strangled,  by  the  marks  on  his  throat 
and  the  colour  of  his  face.  But  the  blood, 
what  of  that  ?  He  peered  down  and  saw  that 
both  wrists  had  been  cut  and  the  blood  that 
poured  from  the  severed  arteries,  evidently 
before  he  died,  had  soaked  through  the  floor 
and  down  into  the  lower  room.  Now  there 
was  no  blood  flowing,  only  a  still  pitiable 
figure,  whom  Jack  had  known  almost  since 
he  could  remember ;  and  for  a  moment  he 
broke  down.  Then  suddenly  rage  got  the 
better  of  his  grief,  fierce  anger  against  the 


THE  LADY  OF  THE  TELEPHONE  149 

cowardly  brute  who  had  done  this  thing.  He 
left  the  body  where  it  lay,  knowing  that  the 
police  would  wish  this  and  springing  to  his 
feet  turned  from  the  room  and  ran  downstairs. 

There  was  a  chance  that  the  murderer  was 
still  in  the  house  ;  he  must  have  come  for 
robbery.  There  was  no  sense  in  murdering 
Jenkins  unless  he  was  wanted  out  of  the  way 
for  some  purpose.  No  thought  of  danger 
to  himself  entered  Jack's  head.  His  one  idea 
was  to  get  to  the  telephone  and  ring  up  Harper. 
He  dashed  into  the  sitting-room,  and  just  across 
the  threshold  of  the  door  stopped. 

There  was  something  odd  here.  He  had 
left  the  lights  full  on,  now  the  room  was  in 
darkness.  He  stretched  out  his  hand  to  turn 
on  the  light  when  he  felt  it  seized  and  held 
in  a  grip  of  iron  and  something  hard  was  poked 
into  his  chest. 

"  Cry  out  or  struggle  and  your  number's 
up,"  said  a  high-pitched  voice.  Alf,  the  dirty 
little  crook  and  right-hand  man  of  Jim  Sullivan  ! 
But  murder  !  Yes,  he  was  capable  of  that  or 
anything,  and  Jack  felt  a  genuine  fear  for 
the  first  time  in  his  life. 

"  Turn  on  the  light,"  said  the  voice  again. 
"  And  remember,  I'll  plug  you  if  you  show 
fight." 

With  a  hand  that  suddenly  shook  Jack 
complied,  and  as  the  room  was  flooded  with 
light,  he  felt  himself  swung  aside  and  the 
door  into  the  hall  shut.  Alf  stood  there. 
Alf  with  blood-stains  on  his  coat  and  Jack 


150  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

suddenly  felt  physically  sick.  Unable  to  speak, 
he  reached  towards  the  telephone. 

"  Keep  away  from  that,"  said  Alf,  thickly, 
and  all  the  time  his  ugly-looking  automatic 
was  levelled  at  Jack's  heart. 

"  Go  to  the  table  and  pour  me  out  a  stiff 
'un.  I  need  it.  I  had  to  do  him  in,"  he  went 
on,  as  Jack,  still  unable  to  speak,  did  as  he 
bade  him.  "  He  would  have  interfered  with 
my  plans  which  is  all  cut  and  dry  and  according 
to  schedule.  Your  'ealth,  Mr.  Jack  Denham,  and 
remember  me  to  the  angels  when  you  gits  there 
to-night,  for  you're  going,  my  hearty,  at  last." 

He  swallowed,  and  drew  a  deep  breath. 
'  That's  good  stuff,  pour  me  out  another  of 
the  same  sort.  I  happened  to  spot  you  nosing 
round  at  Golder's  Green  this  evening  that's 
why  I'm  here.  You've  been  too  clever  for 
once,  Mr.  Denham.  Well,  as  I  said  I  had 
to  kill  your  servant.  I  watched  his  missus  go 
out  with  his  boy  and  then  I  knew  there  was 
only  you  and  him  here.  So  I  made  an  easy 
get  in  by  the  ground  floor,  and  your  front 
door  wasn't  very  difficult.  I  had  to  let  the 
blood  flow  to  get  you  up  here,  you  passed  me 
in  a  corner  of  the  stairs.  And  so  having 
unburdened  myself  of  these  few  remarks  I 
think  we'll  get  to  work.  Go  along  into  your 
bedroom  and  do  it  smart." 

Jack  turned,  and  pulled  open  the  communicat- 
ing swing  door.  His  brother  had  had  a  strong 
swing  put  on  it  as  he  objected  to  Jack's  habit 
of  always  having  doors  open. 


THE  LADY  OF  THE  TELEPHONE  151 

"  Turn  on  the  light,"  snapped  Alf,  and 
followed  him  in.  The  door  swung  to  with  a 
crash  behind  them  and  Alf,  having  turned  the 
key  put  it  in  his  pocket.  Then  Jack  faced  him. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do,  you  black- 
guard ?  "  he  asked,  savagely. 

"  Never  you  mind,  you'll  see  presently,  just 
get  on  to  your  bed  and  lie  still.  If  there's 
any  trouble,  I  shoot." 

"  If  you  intend  to  kill  me  any  way,  I  might 
as  well  be  shot,"  said  Jack,  whose  nerve  had 
suddenly  returned. 

"  Where  there's  life  there's  hope,  remember 
that,"  was  the  reply.  He  crossed  the  room 
as  he  spoke,  and  Jack  watched  him  from  the 
bed.  He  stooped  down  and  picked  up  some- 
thing from  behind  the  dressing-table  which 
stood  cornerwise  in  the  room.  It  was  a  metal 
cylinder,  and  he  placed  it  on  the  floor. 

"  That,"  said  he,  "  was  supposed  to  contain 
electric  fittings.  That  soft-headed  servant  of 
yours  took  it  all  in  nicely." 

'  What  are  you  going  to  do,  you  swine  ?  ' 
asked  Jack  again. 

"  Now,  don't  you  go  calling  names,  young 
man,"  remonstrated  Alf.  "  Just  you  try  and 
behave  nice,  and  go  out  as  a  gentleman  would 
like  to  go  out.  This  little  apparatus  contains 
a  very  special  poisonous  gas,  which,  no  doubt 
would  have  been  used  in  the  late  war,  if  it 
had  been  invented.  Only  it  wasn't.  A  friend 
of  Jim's,  a  German,  invented  it  and  sent  him 
over  a  sample.  That  sample  he  wants  to 


152  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

experiment  with,  and  so  he  told  me  off  to  try 
it  on  you.  If  it  fails,  it  fails,  and  I  shall  have 
to  waste  a  bullet.  If  it  don't  fail,  well,  I'm 
afraid  you  won't  be  a  very  interested  party 
in  the  experiment.  I  don't  think  it's  exactly 
a  pleasant  process,  but  it  don't  take  long  and 
it's  better  than  the  other  way  he  thought 
out  for  you,  which  might  have  took  weeks. 
It  would  depend  entirely  on  your  amount  of 
vitality.  Now  are  you  ready  ?  Before  I 
unscrew  the  cork  so  to  speak,  I  shall  turn  out 
the  lights." 

For  a  moment  Jack  had  lain  there  staring 
at  him,  paralysed  with  the  horror  of  it.  Better 
a  bullet  than  this.  And  yet  as  the  man  talked 
on,  he  couldn't  bring  himself  to  move.  Some- 
thing bade  him  keep  quiet.  As  the  room  was 
once  more  in  darkness  and  he  heard  the  man's 
footsteps  retiring,  he  cautiously  removed  his 
slippers  and  put  his  feet  down  on  to  the  floor. 
There  was  a  sudden  click  and  a  faint  light 
glowed  from  the  corner  of  the  room,  showing 
for  one  moment  the  bent  figure  of  Alf. 

"  Blast  the  thing,  the  battery's  run  out," 
Jack  heard  him  mutter,  and  then  came  the 
noise  of  something  being  unscrewed.  Under 
cover  of  this  Jack  stepped  out  of  bed  and 
crawled  upon  the  floor.  He  kept  his  eyes 
glued  to  the  spot  where  he  had  last  seen  Alf. 

Suddenly  there  came  a  hiss  and  in  that 
moment  Jack  sprang,  caught  and  seized  the 
man's  right  arm  and  twisted  it  backwards. 
He  heard  a  cry  and  the  revolver  dropped  at 


THE  LADY  OF  THE  TELEPHONE  153 

his  feet.  Then  Alf  turned  and  the  two  men 
were  locked  together  and  Jack  was  conscious 
of  a  nauseous  pungent  smell,  and  felt  a  sudden 
constriction  of  his  lungs  and  throat.  Despera- 
tion gave  him  greater  strength  than  he  really 
possessed.  It  was  his  life  or  this  man's  now, 
and  all  the  time  the  gas  was  pumping  out 
into  the  room.  At  last  with  a  supreme  effort 
he  swung  the  little  man  off  his  feet  and  tripped 
him  over  backwards.  He  fell,  with  his  head 
near  the  gas  cylinder. 

"  Ah  !  You've  'urt  me,  I  can't  move," 
he  heard  as  he  dropped  on  his  knees  by  the 
prostrate  figure  and  began  to  search  his  pockets. 
"  Open  the  door,  for  Gawd's  sake,"  came  the 
voice  again.  "I'm  going — suffocating " 

"  The  key,  man,  where  is  the  key  ?  "  shouted 
Jack,  hoarsely,  conscious  again  that  his  lungs 
were  bursting  and  his  strength  going.  There 
was  no  reply,  but  he  felt  a  movement  and 
presently  heard  something  fall  upon  the  floor. 

"  Drag  me  away — for  Gawd's  sake,"  came 
the  voice  once  more,  now  only  a  hoarse  whisper. 
But  Jack  was  on  his  knees,  groping  with 
both  hands. 

"  The  key,"  he  groaned.  "  Oh,  God,  the 
key,  give  me  the  key."  He  spoke  in  his  agony 
as  though  to  a  fellow  human  being.  Groping, 
groping — where  was  it  ?  It  must  be  here, 
it  had  fallen  here,  he  heard  it.  Ah  !  Thank 
God  !  At  last  he  had  it,  and  then  realised 
that  he  had  lost  all  sense  of  direction.  A  wave 
of  furious,  unreasoning  anger  swept  over  him. 


154  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

'  What  the  devil's  the  good  of  giving  me 
the  key,  if  I  can't  find  the  door  ?  "  he  shouted, 
or  thought  he  did.  In  reality  it  was  only  a 
whisper.  Then  came  Alf's  voice  once  more  : 

"  Oh,  my  Gawd,  I'm  dying.  Save  me, 
Mr.  Denham.  For  Gawd  Almighty's  sake, 
save  me,  pull  me  away." 

Alf's  voice  gave  him  the  direction  he  sought. 
The  words  he  heard  from  the  agonised  little 
man  conveyed  no  meaning  to  his  brain.  He 
had  only  one  idea,  to  find  the  door  and  open 
it  before  the  fumes  overcame  him.  He  groped 
his  way  across  the  floor,  hit  against  the  bed, 
caught  at  it  for  support,  for  now  his  head  was 
bursting  as  well  as  his  lungs,  and  once  more 
dragged  himself  along.  His  breath  came  in 
gasps.  He  heard  no  further  sound  from  behind 
until  his  groping  hand  touched  the  door. 
And  then  from  the  far  distance  as  it  seemed, 
he  heard  what  sounded  like  some  animal  caught 
in  a  trap  and  fighting  to  free  itself.  It  was  a 
sickening  sound  but  no  concern  of  his  ;  he  had 
to  find  the  keyhole.  Where  was  it  ?  It 
couldn't  have  gone,  he  held  the  key  so  there 
must  be  a  hole  for  it  to  fit  in.  Oh,  for  one 
breath  of  pure  fresh  air  !  He  forgot  all  about 
the  window.  That  did  not  exist  at  all  in  his 
clouded  brain.  Neither  did  he  think  to  turn 
up  the  light.  The  room  was  dark,  and  the 
air  suffocating,  therefore  he  had  to  get  out 
of  the  darkness  and  the  stifling  atmosphere, 
and  there  was  only  one  way  to  do  this,  to  find 
the  keyhole.  Above  or  below  the  handle  ? 


THE  LADY  OF  THE  TELEPHONE  155 

Which  ?  Which  ?  Suddenly  he  banged  in 
futile  anger  against  the  door,  and  then  he 
found  it,  pressed  in  the  key,  turned  it  and 
fell  with  his  head  against  the  wooden  panels. 
The  sharp  pain  brought  him  back  to  life.  With 
one  supreme  despairing  effort  he  wrenched 
open  the  door  and  thrust  his  head  out,  drew 
a  deep  breath  and  forced  his  shoulders  through, 
then  dragged  his  body  and  legs.  The  door 
swung  violently  shut  precipitating  him  upon 
his  face,  where  he  lay.  But  not  for  long. 
He  had  something  else  to  do.  His  subconscious 
brain  told  him  that,  and  it  took  him,  without 
any  volition  of  his  own,  on  crawling  hands 
and  knees,  to  the  telephone.  He  groped  for 
the  receiver,  found  it. 

"  Scotland  Yard,  quick,"  he  whispered  and 
then  repeated  it  louder  three  times.  He  laid 
his  aching,  bursting  head  with  the  receiver 
underneath,  pressed  close  to  his  ear,  on  to  the 
open  desk.  He  couldn't  hold  it  up  any  more. 
Presently  came  a  sound. 

"  Tell  Harper,"  he  said.  "  Come  quick — 
murder — Denham — Lennox "  The  re- 
ceiver dropped  from  his  grasp  and  he  fell  in 
a  crumpled  heap  on  to  the  floor. 


He  awoke  to  find  himself  in  bed,  only  it 
wasn't  his  bedroom  but  the  sitting-room, 
with  old  Dr.  Watman  bending  over  him. 

"  That's  better,"  he  heard  him  say.  "  Now 
drink  this,  my  boy."  Something  was  held  to 


156  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

his  lips,  he  swallowed  and  things  cleared  a 
bit.  He  heard  a  noise  and  saw  someone 
coming  out  of  his  bedroom  with  a  cloth  over 
his  mouth  and  dragging  something  by  the 
legs.  That  object,  whatever  it  was,  the  man 
let  fall  with  a  grunt  of  disgust,  and  turned 
and  looked  at  him. 

"  Come  round,  doctor  ?  ''  he  asked,  and 
Jack  recognised  Harper's  voice. 

"  Yes,  but  no  questions  yet.  Have  you 
taken  the  man  out  ?  ' 

"  Yes.  The  place  still  stinks  vilely,  but  I've 
opened  the  windows.  It's  a  bad  job  about 
poor  Jenkins.  I  don't  know  what  Captain 
Denham  will  say." 

"  Drink  some  more  of  this,"  said  the  doctor 
kindly,  once  more  holding  a  glass  to  Jack's 
lips.  "  Feel  better,  do  you  think  ?  ' 

"  Yes,"  said  Jack,  and  tried  to  sit  up. 

"  Lie  still,  don't  move,  you  can  tell  us 
everything  lying  down.  I've  written  out  a 
wire  and  will  have  it  sent  first  thing  to  your 
brother.  You're  quite  safe,  my  boy,  Harper's 
here  and  a  couple  of  men  and  he  wants  to  hear 
what  you  can  tell  him." 

He  motioned  the  detective  across  to  the  bed, 
and  Harper  took  a  chair,  sat  down  and  opened 
his  notebook. 

Slowly,  and  with  many  pauses,  Jack  told 
what  he  knew.  Harper  helped  him  with 
questions,  for  at  times  his  memory  failed. 

"  And  so  it's  Alf,  one  of  that  damned  gang," 
said  Harper,  as  he  snapped  his  book  and 


THE  LADY  OF  THE  TELEPHONE  157 

pocketed  it.  "  Well,  he  won't  do  any  more 
harm,  any  way.  You  had  a  narrow  escape, 
Mr.  Denham." 

The  doctor  rose  and  motioned  the  detective 
away. 

"  That  will  do  for  now,  you  get  on  with  your 
work.  I  want  my  patient  to  sleep." 

"  All  right,  doc.,  I'm  leaving  a  man  at 
the  door  as  I  rather  damaged  the  lock  getting 
in,  and  I'll  get  that  carcass  taken  off  to  the 
mortuary.  We'll  keep  this  out  of  the  papers 
as  far  as  possible,  and  if  Mr.  Denham's  too  ill 
to  attend  the  inquest  I'll  take  his  written 
statement  instead.  We've  got  poor  Jenkins 
on  the  bed  upstairs  and  when  I've  seen  to 
things  I'll  go  round  to  Mrs.  Jenkins'  sister, 
one  of  my  men  knows  her  address,  and  break 
the  news.  Is  he  pretty  bad  ?  ' 

"  He'll  be  quite  fit  to-morrow,"  was  the  reply. 
"  Only  wants  to  be  kept  quiet  to-day.  He 

could  not,  I  suppose "  here  the  doctor 

lowered  his  voice,  "  be  charged  with  the  murder 
of  this  man,  Harper  ?  ' 

The  detective  laughed. 

"  Murder  !  "  he  repeated.  "  Justifiable  homi- 
cide, if  they  charged  him  at  all,  but  there'll 
be  nothing  of  that  sort.  He  was  fighting  for 
his  life  as  any  man  has  a  right  to.  That  he 
forgot  to  drag  the  little  brute  out  too  was 
the  fault  of  the  gas,  not  his  wish  or  will.  Besides 
he  hadn't  the  strength.  It's  a  wonder  to  me 
how  he  got  out  himself.  Well,  I'm  off.  You're 
staying  here  ?  " 


158  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"I'm  staying  until  Captain  Denham  comes," 

was*  the  quiet  reply. 

******** 

"  Better  get  up  and  dress,  old  man,"  said 
Edward,  strolling  into  his  brother's  room  two 
mornings  later.  '  We  shall  be  going  in  half 
an  hour." 

"  Going  ?  '  repeated  Jack,  yawning  and 
rubbing  his  eyes.  "  Going  where  ?  ' 

"  Into  Cornwall,"  was  the  reply.  "  The 
ambulance  came  up  from  the  doctor's  house 
last  night.  It's  better  for  you  to  be  seen 
going  away  in  that,  if  there  are  any  watchers. 
We  have  thought  it  all  out,  and  so  if  any  of 
your  friends  are  on  the  look  out  they'll  see  you 
carried  out  on  a  stretcher  and  apparently 
conveyed  to  hospital  or  a  nursing  home.  It's 
a  good  idea,"  he  added,  straightening  his  tie 
in  the  glass. 

"I'm  damned  if  I  get  up  and  dress  for 
that,"  retorted  Jack  angrily.  "  You  must  be 
cracked,  Eddy." 

"  Of  course  if  you  prefer  to  go  in  your  pyjamas 
that's  your  affair,  but  I  don't  recommend  it," 
said  the  other  quietly.  "  It  strikes  me  as 
slovenly  in  the  extreme.  Mrs.  Jenkins  has 
turned  the  water  on  in  the  bath,  so  if  you  want 
it  hot,  I  advise  you  to  hurry." 

It  was  Edward  Denham  who  had  taken 
command  of  the  situation  on  his  arrival. 
Edward,  calm  and  collected,  but  bitterly  grieved 
at  the  loss  of  what  he  termed  one  of  his  best 
friends.  It  was  Edward  who  had  soothed  the 


THE  LADY  OF  THE  TELEPHONE  159 

broken-hearted  wife,  placing  her  in  his  chair, 
and  with  a  rare  knowledge  of  human  nature 
letting  her  cry  her  fill  without  attempting  to 
check  her  tears.  It  was  he  who  listened,  in 
sympathetic  silence  to  her  rambling  words 
and  moans  of  distress  and  who  had  finally 
taken  her  hand  gently  in  his  own  and  said  : 

"  My  loss  is  almost  as  great  as  your  own, 
Mary.  In  Jenkins  I  have  lost  the  most  faithful 
servant,  the  truest  friend  man  ever  had.  He 
can  never  be  replaced."  It  was  Edward  who 
took  her  to  her  sister  and  left  them  words 
of  comfort  and  more  substantial  help. 

"  The  funeral,  of  course,  is  my  affair,"  he 
said.  "  Keep  her  with  you  and  when  she  is 
ready  send  her  back  to  me.  If  you  want 
anything,  let  me  know." 

The  sister  foreseeing  future  difficulties,  was 
suddenly  inspired. 

"  Her  son,  'Erbert,  wants  to  go  into  gentle- 
man's service,  sir  p'raps  you  might  think-  of 
trying  him  some  day." 

"  A  chip  of  the  old  block,"  said  Edward. 
"  When  he's  ready,  I'll  take  him  on." 

"  'E's  got  the  face  of  an  angel,  'as  the  captain," 
was  her  comment  on  his  departure. 

"  My  old  man  just  worshipped  him,"  sobbed 
Mrs.  Jenkins.  "  He  was  his  servant  all  through 

the  war,  he  was "  The  rest  of  what  she 

said  was  unintelligible,  even  to  the  sister's  ears. 

And  then  Edward  ruthlessly  made  his  plans, 
which  culminated  in  a  trunk  call  to  the  house 


i6o  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

in  Cornwall  and  the  arrival  of  an  up-to-date 
and  splendidly  equipped  ambulance  and  two 
burly  attendants. 

"  Look  here,  Eddy,"  said  Jack.  "  I  haven't 
told  you  yet,  but  I  happen  to  have  found  out 
where  Sullivan  and  his  gang  hang  out,  and 
it's  my  duty  now,  if  it  wasn't  before,  to  go 
and  hunt  them  down." 

"I'm  glad  to  hear  it,"  said  Edward  dryly. 
"  Harper  will  be  here  soon  and  you  can  hand 
over  your  information  to  him.  It's  a  job  for 
the  police,  not  for  you." 

"I'm  hanged  if  I  hand  it  over,"  retorted 
Jack  angrily.  "  Harper  will  bungle  it.  But 
I'll  tell  you  what  I'll  do,"  he  went  on  more 
quietly.  "  If  you'll  scrap  this  damned  fool 
idea  of  yours,  I'll  tell  Harper  when  he  comes 
and  go  along  with  him." 

"  Nothing  doing,  my  son.  Get  up  and 
dress,  or  must  I  call  those  two  men  in  who 
are  waiting  in  the  hall  to  help  you  ?  I  don't 
advise  it.  It  would  be  rather  humiliating  to 
my  mind." 

Jack  got  up  and  faced  his  brother. 

"  Look  here,"  he  said.  "  You  have  no  right 
to  do  this  and  I  tell  you  I  won't  go.  If  you  want 
me  in  that  ambulance  you'll  have  to  carry  me, 
that's  all." 

"  That's  just  what  I  propose  to  do,"  was 
the  reply.  "  At  least  Musgrave  and  Barton 
will  do  it  for  you,  on  a  stretcher.  Now  don't 
let's  have  any  more  trouble,"  he  glanced  at 
his  watch.  "  You've  got  twenty  minutes  to 


THE  LADY  OF  THE  TELEPHONE  161 

dress  in."  He  left  the  room  and  joined 
Inspector  Harper  in  the  sitting-room. 

"  My  brother  has  just  informed  me  that  he 
knows  where  Sullivan's  gang  are  living,  but 
refuses  to  tell  you  unless  I  alter  my  plans." 

Harper  grinned. 

"  Don't  you  worry,"  he  said.  "  If  he  likes 
to  keep  it  to  himself  let  him.  We  are  not 
idle,  I  have  a  sort  of  an  idea  that  I  shall  soon 
put  my  hands  on  them.  You  get  him  safely 
out  of  harm's  way  and  leave  it  to  me.  You 
haven't  found  out  what  brought  him  back  from 
Normanton  Hall  in  such  a  hurry,  have  you  ?  ' 

"  Only  that  there  was  some  unpleasantness 
with  one  of  the  guests.  He  won't  tell  us  any- 
thing," said  Edward.  "  And,  of  course,  I 
can't  insist.  He  simply  says  that  if  I  hear  any- 
thing to  his  detriment  I  am  not  to  believe  it.  Of 
course  I  won ' t .  He  may  be  a  fool,  but  he  wouldn  't 
lie  to  me.  So  I  am  not  worrying.  You  kept 
this  affair  out  of  the  papers  nicely,  Harper." 

"  I  can't  afford  to  let  that  damned  gang 
know  anything,"  was  the  reply.  "  Let  them 
go  on  guessing.  It  was  explained  fully  to  the 
coroner  and  jury,  that  is  all  that  was  necessary. 
We  have  to  keep  things  dark  sometimes  you 
know.  If  anyone  is  on  the  watch  and  sees 
your  brother  carted  off  in  an  ambulance  they'll 
think  their  man  did  some  damage,  anyhow. 
It's  only  when  they  find  Alf  fails  to  turn  up 
that  they'll  fasten  on  to  the  truth  and  then 
we'll  have  to  look  out.  By  the  way,  we  identi- 
fied Alf.  He  has  done  a  long  stretch  for 


162  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

robbery  and  went  by  the  name  of  George 
Amber  ;  perhaps  you  remember  the  case.  No  ? 
Well  he  was  an  expert  at  the  game.  Now 
I'll  go  and  keep  on  the  watch.  If  I  find  anyone 
following  I  shall  arrest  them  on  suspicion. 
Good-bye,  captain,  and  good  luck.  Ring  me  up 
if  you  land  safe,  and  don't  be  afraid  of  taking 
drastic  measures  with  Master  Jack,  he's  as 
slippery  as  an  eel." 

Jack,  his  face  white  with  anger,  entered 
the  sitting-room  twenty  minutes  later  and 
found  two  strange  men,  both  tall  and  of  immense 
physique. 

"  Good  morning,  sir/'  said  the  taller  of  the 
two.  "I'm  Musgrave,  and  this  is  Mr.  Barton. 
I  hope  you're  feeling  better,  sir." 

"  I'm  quite  well,  thanks.  Where's  Captain 
Denham  ?  ' 

"  He  and  Dr.  Watman  have  already  got 
into  the  conveyance,  sir.  Would  you  be  good 
enough  to  lie  down  on  that,  sir  ?  '  He  pointed 
as  he  spoke  to  a  stretcher  which  lay  on  the 
ground. 

"  What  ridiculous  nonsense,"  said  Jack, 
indignantly.  "  It  will  do  quite  as  well  if 
I  walk." 

"I'm  afraid  not,  sir,"  replied  the  man, 
with  a  grin.  "  We  want  to  make  the  delusion 
complete,  as  Mr.  Maskelyne  used  to  say.  If 
there's  anyone  on  the  watch,  they  must  see 
you  carried  out.  You're  pale  enough,  thank 
goodness,  so  we  shan't  have  to  use  any  chalk 
or  grease  paint.  Lie  down  if  you  please,  sir." 


THE  LADY  OF  THE  TELEPHONE  163 

Jack  looked  at  the  two  men.  They  had 
pleasant  faces  and  the  one  who  had  spoken 
was  perfectly  polite,  but  the  last  words  had 
rung  out  with  a  tone  of  authority.  He 
shrugged  his  shoulders,  realising  that  he 
certainly  had  no  chance  if  it  came  to  a  struggle 
and  lay  full  length  on  the  narrow  stretcher. 
Barton  put  a  pillow  under  his  head. 

"  Put  your  arms  down  to  your  sides,  if  you 
please,  sir,"  said  Musgrave,  and  Jack  glared 
at  him,  but  obeyed. 

Then,  with  a  deftness  and  speed  that  spoke 
of  long  practice,  broad  straps,  attached  to 
each  side  of  the  stretcher,  and  which  he  had 
not  noticed  before,  were  buckled  across  his 
chest,  thighs  and  ankles,  and  he  was  helpless. 

"  Quite  comfortable,  sir?  That's  right,"  said 
Musgrave  pleasantly,  and  threw  a  rug  over 
him. 

"  I  didn't  say  so,"  snapped  Jack,  furiously. 
"  You've  no  right  to  do  this  and  these  straps 
hurt  damnably." 

"  I  don't  think  so,  sir,  if  you  lie  still,  it's 
only  the  novelty  of  it.  You'll  soon  get  used  to 
it,  sir.  Now,  Mr.  Barton,  up  with  him." 

"  Come,"  he  went  on  affably.  "  You're  not 
much  of  a  weight,  sir,  for  your  height.  We'll 
have  to  put  some  more  flesh  on  you  when  we 
get  down  there.  It's  splendid  air  in  our  part 
of  Cornwall,  sir,  you'll  soon  be  a  different  man. 
Mind  the  door,  Mr.  Barton.  Now  close  your 
eyes,  if  you  please,  sir,  and  look  as  ill  as  you 
know  how." 


164  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"I'd  like  to  twist  your  neck,"  growled  Jack, 
glaring  at  him. 

"  Not  just  yet,  sir,  if  you  don't  mind.  Let's 
wait  until  we  get  home  and  then  I  am  at  your 
service.  Ever  gone  in  for  boxing,  sir  ?  No  ? 
Grand  exercise.  I  was  reckoned  fairly  good 
in  my  time  before  I  took  to  nursing  lunies. 
There's  a  good  gym.  at  the  Hall,  sir.  Now, 
eyes  shut,  if  you  please,  we're  just  going  out." 

They  paused.  Musgrave  held  his  end  of 
the  stretcher  in  one  hand  and  put  the  other 
over  Jack's  eyes. 

"  Better  do  as  you're  told,  sir,"  he  whispered, 
bending  over  him. 

Jack  closed  his  eyes  and  cursed  under  his 
breath. 

They  entered  the  well-appointed  vehicle  and 
he  was  laid  on  a  couch.  Barton  went  round 
to  the  front  and  sprang  into  the  driver's  seat. 
Musgrave  closed  the  door  and  sat  down  on  a 
seat.  Jack  turned  his  head  and  saw  Edward 
and  Dr.  Watman  seated  in  comfortable  chairs 
talking.  The  ambulance  began  to  move,  but 
the  motion  was  so  smooth,  the  springs  so  per- 
fectly adjusted  that  it  was  almost  impossible 
to  believe  they  moved  at  all. 

"  Eddy,"  said  Jack,  sharply.  His  brother 
looked  round. 

"  Let  me  out  of  this  at  once.  It's  a  damned 
outrage." 

"No,  my  dear  boy,"  was  the  reply.  "It's 
a  disagreeable  necessity,  and  I'm  afraid  you 
must  stop  there  for  a  bit.  One  can't  always 


THE  LADY  OF  THE  TELEPHONE  165 

have  one's  own  way  in  life,  Jack,  and  discipline's 
good  for  everyone." 

Anger  deprived  Jack  of  further  speech. 

They  reached  their  destination  in  the  evening, 
and  Jack,  reduced  to  submission  by  two  hours 
on  the  stretcher,  was  standing  at  the  window, 
looking  out  at  the  vista  of  fields  and  trees 
that  flashed  by,  when  his  view  was  blocked 
by  the  sudden  appearance  of  a  high  brick  wall. 
They  drew  up  at  a  massive  gateway.  The 
iron  gates  swung  open  and  the  car  passed 
through.  He  heard  them  clang  to  as  they 
drove  on,  and  frowned  as  he  looked  at  the 
twenty  foot  wall. 

They  passed  down  a  long  drive  bordered 
by  fine  trees  whose  leaves,  even  in  the  darkening 
evening,  betrayed  the  tokens  of  rich  autumn 
tints.  It  was  like  passing  under  an  arch  of 
red  and  gold  ;  away  to  his  left  he  saw  stretches 
of  lawn,  a  tennis  court,  terraces  laid  out  with 
beds  of  roses  and  herbaceous  borders,  in  the 
distance  the  glint  of  a  lake — a  veritable  miniature 
paradise  was  this  harbour  of  refuge.  Only 
the  high  wall  with  its  cut  glass  imbedded  in 
the  top  would  impede  itself  before  his  view. 
Well,  even  twenty  feet  could  be  scaled,  if  no 
one  were  watching ;  and  would  they  watch 
him  ?  It  was  not  likely,  not  with  a  wall 
like  that. 

They  drew  up  before  a  three-storied,  Queen 
Anne  mansion.  A  broad  stone  terrace  ran 
the  length  of  the  front  and  steps  gave  on  to 
the  beautifully  cut  lawns.  A  peacock  strutted 


166  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

at  one  end  of  the  terrace,  massive  stone  vases, 
ablaze  with  autumn  flowers  stood  at  intervals 
along  it. 

"  By  Jove,  it's  a  fine  place,"  said  Jack,  with 
honest  admiration.  Such  a  place  as  he  had 
dreamt  of  where  he  and  the  girl  of  his  heart 
would  one  day  live  and  have  their  being.  He 
used  to  picture  himself  strolling  down  the 
terrace  in  the  moonlight,  his  arm  around  the 
waist  of  this  dream  maid,  happy  in  their  love, 
content  with  all  the  world,  at  peace  and  perfect 
rest.  Here  was  the  place,  but  alas  !  it  lacked 
the  one  essential.  He  got  out  and  ascended 
the  flight  of  steps. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  my  little  abode  of 
rest  ?  '  asked  the  doctor  kindly,  laying  a 
hand  on  the  young  man's  shoulder. 

"  Honestly,  it's  gorgeous,"  he  said  frankly, 
and  then  with  a  laugh  :  "  It  makes  a  splendid 
gaol." 

'  That  rests  entirely  with  you,"  was  the 
reply.  Jack  did  not  answer  and  the  party 
entered  the  house. 

A  matronly  woman  greeted  her  master  in 
the  large  hall.  "  I  got  your  wire,  doctor," 
she  said.  "  And  prepared  the  rooms  you 
mentioned.  Dinner  will  be  ready  in  ten 
minutes."  She  hurried  out. 

"  I  think  if  we  just  give  ourselves  a  wash 
and  brush  up,"  said  the  doctor,  "  that  will 
meet  the  occasion." 

He  led  the  way  upstairs.  On  the  first 
landing  he  showed  Edward  Denham  his  room 


THE  LADY  OF  THE  TELEPHONE  167 

and  then  asked  Jack  to  follow  him  to  the  top 
floor. 

"  I  have  put  you  in  the  sunniest  and  most 
cheerful  rooms  in  the  house,"  he  said  genially, 
as  he  threw  open  a  door  and  motioned  to  Jack 
to  pass  in. 

"  Ah,  you  are  there  first,  Barton,"  went 
on  the  doctor  as  the  sturdy  man  came  towards 
them. 

"  Barton  will  look  after  you,"  said  the  doctor. 
"  He  sleeps  here,  so  he  will  be  nice  and  handy 
in  case  you  want  anything.  Your  bedroom  and 
sitting-room,  if  you  should  want  to  use  one, 
open  out  of  this  room,  but  have  no  doors  of 
their  own  communicating  with  the  passage. 
Unfortunately  these  old  houses  were  built  so, 
and  I  have  not  set  about  altering  it  yet." 

"  I  quite  understand,"  said  Jack,  grimly. 
As  he  spoke  he  crossed  to  the  window  and 
looked  down.  A  drop  of  thirty  feet  was  there 
should  he  attempt  an  exodus  that  way.  The 
only  other  exit  was  through  this  man  Barton's 
room.  Yes,  he  quite  understood. 

"  The  gong  will  ring  in  ten  minutes,"  added 
the  doctor,  then  pausing  at  the  door  :  "  There 
are  only  two  other  patients  with  me  at  present, 
a  poor  fellow  who  is  not  quite  as  other  men 
and  a  very  charming  and  pretty  young  widow 
who  is  here  for  her  health."  He  smiled  and 
went  out. 

Jack  glanced  at  Barton  who  was  pouring 
hot  water  into  a  basin  and  who  then  proceeded  to 
arrange  the  things  from  his  bag,  which  he  had 


168  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

brought  up,  on  his  dressing-table.  He  was  a 
powerful  looking  man  and  had  evidently  been 
in  the  army. 

"  It's  a  fine  look  out  from  these  windows, 
sir,"  he  said  presently.  "  You  can  see  right 
out  to  the  sea  on  a  fine  day." 

'  That's  certainly  an  asset,"  replied  Jack, 
sourly. 

The  gong  rang  and  he  went  down  to  dinner, 
Barton  behind  him.  At  the  dining-room  door 
the  man  left  him.  It  was  an  uncomfortable 
meal,  and  Jack  was  thankful  when  it  was 
over,  though  he  admitted  that  the  food  was 
excellent,  the  wine  of  the  best.  He  noticed 
that  the  two  patients  mentioned  by  the  doctor 
were  not  with  them. 

"  I  believe  the  lady  had  her  dinner  early," 
said  Edward,  as  he  and  his  brother  strolled 
out  on  to  the  terrace  ;  "  the  luny  has  his  meal 
by  himself  sometimes.  What  a  glorious  night, 
Jack,"  he  went  on,  "  and  what  a  gorgeous 
place.  I  wouldn't  mind  being  here  myself, 
but  I  shall  have  to  go  to-morrow,  and  I'm 
afraid  I  shall  not  be  able  to  come  again  for 
some  time  in  case  those  fellows  take  it  into 
their  heads  to  watch  me  too.  I  hope  you'll 
be  all  right  here,  old  fellow." 

"  Thanks,  awfully,"  was  the  reply.  "  But 
don't  you  worry  about  that,  your  mind  will 
be  easy,  anyway,  and  that's  all  that  matters." 

He  strolled  away  by  himself,  but  he  knew 
that  the  man,  Barton,  was  not  far  off  and  pre- 
sently he  heard  his  steps  on  the  flags  ten  yards 


THE  LADY  OF  THE  TELEPHONE  169 

behind.  Jack  turned  the  corner  of  the  house 
and  came  face  to  face  with  a  woman.  She 
was  walking  slowly,  with  her  head  bent,  dressed 
in  pale  grey-blue  with  a  filmy  scarf  thrown  over 
her  shoulders,  her  golden  head  shining  in  the 
moonlight.  She  looked  more  like  some 
ghostly  visitant  than  mere  flesh  and  blood. 
Hearing  footsteps  she  raised  her  head  and  their 
eyes  met.  Jack  started  violently.  Was  she 
a  ghost  ?  Or  was  it  really  his  dream  woman 
come  to  life  and  standing  there  before  him? 
So  had  he  pictured  her  often  in  his  dreams, 
looking  at  him,  her  big  dark  eyes  wide  with 
surprise  and  wonder,  her  red  lips  parted,  one 
hand  holding  the  scarf  at  her  throat  ;  the  short 
curly  golden  hair  an  aureole  round  the  beautiful 
face. 

He  stood  awkwardly  for  a  moment  regarding 
her.  This,  then,  was  the  pretty  widow  who 
was  here  to  rest  jarred  and  shaken  nerves. 

Woman-like,  she  was  the  first  to  break  the 
embarrassing  silence. 

"  I  heard  there  was  to  be  a  new  patient," 
she  said  with  a  smile,  and  her  tones  were 
unusually  deep  and  rich  for  a  woman.  "  You 
have  just  come  ?  ' 

'  Yes,"  he  said,  feeling  unaccountably  shy, 
he  who  feared  nothing  and  no  man. 

'  We  must   introduce  ourselves,"   she  went 
on.     "I  am  Mrs.  All  wood." 

"  And  I,  Jack  Denham,"  said  he.  For  a 
moment  her  name  conveyed  nothing  to  him, 
and  then  suddenly  the  truth  flashed  upon 


170  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

him.  The  lady  of  the  telephone,  the  widow 
of  the  unspeakable  Frederick  Allwood  who 
had  lately  died  in  an  inebriates'  home.  His 
heart  thumped  against  his  ribs. 

"  You,  Jack  Denham !  "  she  cried,  and 
suddenly  held  out  her  hand.  "  What  must 
you  think  of  me  for  never  having  tried  to  find 
the  brave  man  who  answered  my  telephone 
call  and  was  coming  to  my  rescue  ?  Can  you 
ever  forgive  me  ?  '  Their  hands  met,  un- 
consciously he  held  hers  fast. 

"  Oh,  there's  nothing  to  forgive,"    he  said. 

'  Why  should  you  have  bothered  ?     I  went 

because  it  was  due  to  the  other  Jack    that  I 

should  go,   but   I  failed,   you  see,  miserably, 

and  he  would  not  have  failed." 

"  But  you  answered  my  call,"  she  said, 
"  and  I  was  a  stranger.  It  was  great  of  you. 
I  used  to  think  chivalry  was  dead  in  the  world, 
but  I  found  then  it  was  not.  I  was  going  to 
try  and  find  out  who  it  was  but  I  have  been 
here  ever  since  and  Dr.  Watman,  though  he 
told  me  your  name,  would  not  let  me  write 
or  read  or  do  anything  at  first.  I  had  gone 
through  so  much,  I  was,  oh  !  I  was  ill,  you 
know,  and  he  was  so  kind  to  me.  He  has 
brought  me  back  to  life  again." 

"  I  understand,"  said  Jack  in  a  low  voice. 
'  Will  you  believe  that  I  understand  and  that 
there  is  no  need  for  explanation  from  you  ?  " 

She  looked  up  into  his  face  and  smiled. 

"  Yes,"  she  said.  "  I  believe  that.  I  used 
to  wonder  what  the  Jack  who  answered  my 


THE  LADY  OF  THE  TELEPHONE  171 

call  was  like.  I  pictured  him  so  vividly.  Do 
you  know,  he  was  extraordinarily  like  you  ?  ' 

She  laughed  gaily,  her  mirth  was  infectious. 

"  Isn't  it  odd,"  he  said,  "  that  we  should 
meet  here  ?  '  There  were  chairs  on  the  terrace 
and  it  was  a  warm  night,  she  sat  down  and  he 
stood  in  front  of  her  looking  down  at  her. 

"  Why  are  you  here,  Mr.  Denham  ?  "  she 
asked.  "  You  don't  look  ill,  at  least,  not 
very,"  she  amended. 

"I'll  tell  you  why,"  he  said,  sitting  down 
beside  her,  "  and  my  story  will  explain  my 
failure  that  night." 

It  took  some  time  in  the  telling  and  through 
it  she  sat  quiet,  absorbed.  In  the  end  she 
clasped  her  hands,  terrified. 

"How  horrible,"  she  said.  "Oh,  how 
horrible  !  And  all  this  has  happened  because 
of  me.  If  it  had  not  been  for  that  call,  you 
would  have  been  spared  all  this." 

'  Thank  God  for  that  call,"  he  said,  earnestly. 
"  Because  of  that  call  I  have  been  in  danger, 
because  of  that  danger  I  have  been  brought 
here,  against  my  will,  against  my  inclination, 

but  now "  He  broke  off  and  stared  away 

across  the  moonlit  lawn,  "I'm  glad  I  have 
come,  glad  that  I  shall  have  to  stay.  I  had 
thought  of  it  as  a  gilded  cage.  Now  a  cage 
no  longer."  He  stopped  and  once  more  stared 
at  her.  She  rose  abruptly. 

"  Let  us  go  in,"  she  said,  and  then  with  a 
gay  little  laugh  :  "  We  have  to  retire  early 
here,  Mr.  Denham,  it  is  one  of  the  rules.  You 


172  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

will  have  to  obey  the  rules  you  know."  At 
the  window  she  paused. 

"  I  can't  go  in  just  yet,"  he  said.  "  I  want 
to  think." 

"  The  moonlight  and  this  place  helps 
thought,"  she  said.  '  To-morrow  there  will 
be  lots  to  talk  about.  Good  night."  Once 
more  he  held  her  hand  in  his.  Then  she  was 
gone  and  he  paced  the  wide  terrace.  So 
unlike  those  other  women  he  had  met  and 
grown  accustomed  to,  with  their  slang  and 
boisterous  manners.  Rather  was  she  a  picture 
of  the  old  days  come  to  life,  come  back  to  tell 
him  that  women  are  not  all  like  those  he  had 
met.  A  picture  that  was  yet  no  picture,  but 
a  living,  breathing  reality,  full  of  life  and 
feeling,  of  gratitude  for  that  which  he  had 
attempted  to  do,  and  had  failed  in ;  of  sorrow 
born  of  years  of  misery  ;  of  hope  for  the  dawning 
of  better  years  to  come.  A  real  woman,  and 
yet  the  woman  of  his  dreams. 

A  step  behind  him  broke  in  on  his  meditation. 

"  It  is  time  for  you  to  go  in,  sir,"  said  Barton, 
at  his  elbow.  "  The  nights  turn  chilly  and  we 
close  the  house  at  half  past  nine." 

"  All  right,"  was  the  reply,  no  resentment 
in  it  now.  "  I  want  to  see  Dr.  Wat  man." 

"  He's  in  the  hall,  sir." 

Jack  found  the  old  man  alone  reading  in 
an  arm-chair.  He  looked  up. 

"  A  glorious  night,  Mr.  Denham,"  he  said. 

"  Grand,  doctor,"  was  the  reply.  '  This 
is  a  ripping  place,"  he  went  on,  trying  to 


THE  LADY  OF  THE  TELEPHONE  173 

speak  naturally,  but  knowing  all  the  while 
that  the  effort  to  battle  with  his  pride  was 
making  his  voice  unsteady.  "  I  really  think, 
after  all,  I  shall  have  quite  a  good  time  here, 
I — er — am  quite  willing  to  stay  for  a  time." 

"  That's  right,  my  boy.  I  thought  you 
would  say  so  when  you  saw  it.  Well,  as  soon 
as  you  feel  you  would  like  to  give  Inspector 
Harper  any  information,  just  tell  me." 

"  I'll  give  it  now,"  said  Jack.  "  The  gang 
hang  out  at  Golder's  Green." 

"  Yes,  that's  what  Harper  told  me,"  was  the 
quiet  reply.  "  The  man,  Alf,  was  seen  there 
by  a  Golder's  Green  police  constable  and 
identified." 

"  Good  God  !  "  said  Jack.  "  The  police  are 
brighter  than  I  thought." 

"  Yes,  they  are  pretty  efficient,"  replied  the 
doctor,  dryly.  "  They  don't  need  much  help. 
By  the  way,"  he  went  on  casually,  "  have 
you  met  Mrs.  All  wood  yet  ?  ': 

"  Yes,  oh,  yes,"  said  Jack.  "  Just  now, 
out  on  the  terrace,  you  know.  I  say,  Dr. 
Watman,  did  you  know  that  she  was  the  lady 
who  rang  me  up  on  the  telephone  that  night  ?  ' 

"  Oh,  yes,"  was  the  quiet  reply.  "  I  knew 
all  about  it,  I  wanted  you  to  meet  some  day." 

He  missed  the  smile  the  doctor  tried  vainly 
to  hide  and  the  twinkle  in  his  kindly  eyes. 
Later  when  he  heard  his  brother  and  Dr. 
Watman  laughing  together  he  wondered  what 
the  joke  was. 


CHAPTER  VI 

A  TEST   OF  LOVE 

"  A  NYONE  called,  Herbert  ?  "  asked  Ed- 
/\  ward  Denham,  one  evening  ten 

JL  .V.  days  after  his  return  from  Corn- 
wall to  his  rooms  in  Lennox  Street. 

"  Yes,  sir,  a  man  from  Scotland  Yard, 
to  ask  if  you  were  back." 

"  Oh,  was  it  Harper  ?  ' 

"  No,  sir,"  replied  the  young  man.  "  He  said  he 
was  sent  round  by  Inspector  Harper,  who,  he 
thought,  would  call  you  up  later  on  the  'phone." 

1  What  time  was  this,  Jenkins  ?  '' 

"  In  the  afternoon,  sir,  about  three  o'clock." 

"  Did  he  say  anything  else  ?  "  asked  Denham. 

"  Only  said  he  was  sorry  you  were  not  there, 
sir.  He  asked  if  the  other  Mr.  Denham  was 
still  away,  and  I  told  him,  according  to  your 
instructions,  sir,  that  he  was  still  in  a  nursing 
home." 

"Thanks,  I'll  wait  for  his  call." 

It  was  eight  o'clock  before  it  came.  He  was 
in  the  act  of  turning  into  his  room  to  dress 
for  dinner  when  the  telephone  bell  rang. 

'  Yes,"  he  said,  taking  up  the  receiver.  '  Yes. 
Edward  Denham  speaking.  Who  is  it  ?  ' 

174 


A  TEST  OF  LOVE  175 

"Scotland  Yard/'  came  the  reply.  "We 
think  we  are  on  the  right  trail  at  last,  and  we 
want  you  to  help  us.  Your  brother  has  de- 
scribed them  fully,  hasn't  he  ?  ' 

"  He  has,"  replied  Edward.  "  But  how  can 
that  help  you  ?  ' 

'  You  can  spot  them  for  us,  we  aren't  quite 
sure.  We've  got  the  place  now  where  they 
meet,"  went  on  the  voice.  "  All  we  want  is  for 
you  to  give  us  your  help." 

"  Who  is  it  speaking  ?  "  asked  Denham.  "  It's 
not  Harper." 

"No.  Harper  has  gone  out,  it's  Inspector 
Cunningham.  He  left  me  in  charge  while  he 
went  off  on  his  trip,  you  know  where  to,  but 
it's  not  safe  to  mention  names." 

"  It's  not,"  said  Denham.  "  Well,  when  do 
you  want  me,  and  where  ?  ' 

'  To-night,  at  nine-thirty,  No.  3,  Star 
Street,  Soho.  We've  made  it  our  rendezvous, 
and  then  we  go  in  a  body  to  their  head- 
quarters. Bring  your  revolver." 

"  I  will,"  said  Denham.     "  Anything  more  ?  " 

"  No,  don't  drive  up  in  a  taxi,  that's  all. 
Stop  at  the  corner  of  the  street  and  walk  to 
No.  3.  Is  it  all  quite  clear  ?  " 

"  Quite,"  said  Edward. 

'  Well,  that's  all  then,  and  thank  you  very 
much,  nine-thirty,  remember." 

Edward  Denham  was  not  likely  to  forget. 
At  last,  then,  the  police  were  on  the  track  of 
these  brutes.  Unpleasant  as  his  job  was  he 
would  gladly  put  up  with  it  if  it  were  to  help 


176  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

in  the  arrest  of  this  gang  and  finish  once  and 
for  all  the  threat  of  death  which  was  Jack's 
constant  menace. 

He  dined  as  he  was,  at  an  out  of  way,  but 
excellent  little  restaurant  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  his  rendezvous.  He  reflected  as  he  ate, 
how  poor  old  Jack  would  have  liked  to  be  in 
his  place  that  night,  at  grips  at  last  with 
these  people  who  had  made  him  suffer  so 
bitterly,  physically  and  morally.  It  was  cer- 
tainly rather  bad  luck  that  he  should  be  out 
of  it  at  the  crucial  moment.  But  again, 
just  as  well.  There  was  the  risk  that  he  might 
have  been  seen.  They  would  not  be  on  the 
look  out  for  the  elder  brother.  He  finished 
dinner,  felt  to  see  that  his  weapon  was  easily 
get-at-able,  and  putting  on  his  hat  strolled 
out  of  the  restaurant.  He  had  purposely 
dawdled  over  the  meal,  dragging  it  out  as  long 
as  he  could,  smoking  innumerable  cigarettes 
afterwards.  It  was  a  quarter  past  nine  now, 
so  that  if  he  strolled  leisurely  along  in  the  direc- 
tion he  was  going  (he  had  ascertained  the  way 
to  Star  Street),  he  calculated  to  arrive  at  the 
meeting-place  at  the  exact  time. 

The  streets  were  not  crowded,  but  those 
pedestrians  whom  he  did  see  were  not  over 
prepossessing  in  their  appearance.  The  police 
seemed  fairly  numerous  here.  A  big  car  passed 
rapidly  and  turned  up  a  street.  He  glanced  up 
and  by  the  corner  lamp  saw  that  it  was  Star 
Street.  Evidently  the  police  car,  so  he  must 
hurry.  Yes.  the  big  machine  was  standing 


A  TEST   OF   LOVE  177 

outside  a  house  a  good  way  down.  It  was  not 
a  long  street,  a  few  minutes'  quick  walking 
would  bring  him  to  the  house. 

There  was  only  one  man  in  the  car,  a 
man  wearing  a  blue  peaked  cap.  As  Denham 
came  up  and  paused,  the  police  driver  leant 
forward. 

"  Captain  Denham  ?  "  he  asked  in  a  whisper. 

"Yes,"  replied  Edward.. 

"  Go  right  in,  sir,"  said  the  man,  "  the  In- 
spector's there,  you'll  find  the  door  open." 

Edward  Denham  walked  up  the  two  steps 
to  the  door  which  he  pushed  quietly  open. 
The  passage  was  in  darkness.  Away  to  his 
right  he  heard  men's  voices,  talking  in  low 
undertones.  He  advanced  a  few  steps  and  the 
door  shut  behind  him. 

"  AU  right,  sir,"  said  a  voice  close  by.  "  It's 
Captain  Denham,  isn't  it  ?  ' 

'  Yes,"  was  the  reply. 

'  Turn  to  your  right,"  went  on  the  voice. 
"  You'll  find  the  Inspector  there,  all  plain 
clothes  men  to-night,  sir.  Got  your  gun  ?  ' 

"  I  have,"  said  Edward.  He  turned  through 
a  door  to  his  right  into  a  room  which  was  also 
in  darkness,  but  as  he  came  in,  a  torch  was 
flashed  in  his  face. 

"  Right,  it's  you,  sir,"  said  a  harsh  voice. 
"I'm  Inspector  Cunningham.  Now  we  are  all 
here  I  think  we  had  better  start.  I'll  tell  you 
our  plans  on  the  way,  sir." 

There  appeared  to  be  only  two  men  in  the 
room,  one  at  the  door  and  the  chauffeur. 

M 


178  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  Is  this  all  the  force  we  have  ?  '  asked 
Denham. 

"No,  sir.  Inspector  Harper's  gone  on  in 
front,  better  hurry,  sir.  We  are  timed  to  get 
there  at  ten." 

Edward  walked  quickly  down  the  dark  pas- 
sage and  out  into  the  street.  The  driver  of 
the  car  put  his  hand  out  and  opened  the  door. 
Edward  got  in,  the  three  followed. 

"  All  right,"  said  Cunningham.  "  As  fast 
as  you  can,  man."  He  sat  down  beside  Edward 
and  they  started. 

'  Do  you  mind  moving  nearer  to  me,  Mr. 
Denham,"  he  said,  "  and  letting  one  of  us  be 
on  your  other  side  ?  He  and  I  both  want  to  be 
handy  with  the  doors  when  we  get  there." 

"  Certainly."  Edward  looked  at  the  in- 
spector. He  was  a  very  tall  man,  clean-shaven, 
with  cold  blue  eyes  and  big  features.  His  face 
was  somehow  familiar.  His  next  sensation  was 
that  of  a  firm  grip  on  both  his  arms,  and  a  hand 
in  his  breast  pocket  closing  on  his  weapon. 

"  Quite  a  neat  cop,  wasn't  it,  Captain  Den- 
ham ?  "  said  the  harsh  voice,  and  a  laugh  from 
the  other  two  followed.  "  You  just  walked 
right  into  the  trap  like  a  mouse  after  a  bit  of 
cheese." 

Edward  felt  his  heart  give  a  violent  beat 
and  for  a  moment  a  deadly  fear  possessed  him. 
But  only  for  a  moment.  In  a  crisis  of  danger, 
like  his  brother,  he  was  at  his  best. 

"  It  appears  then,  that  you  are  not  quite 
what  I  took  you  for,"  he  said  quietly. 


A  TEST  OF  LOVE  179 

"  Not  exactly  ;  you  are  very  green,  Captain 
Denham,"  said  the  big  man. 

"  I  don't  agree  there,"  he  replied.  "  It  was  a 
masterly  coup  on  your  part  and  I  heartily 
congratulate  you,  Mr. — er — Sullivan,  I  pre- 
sume ?  ' 

"  Yes.  I'm  Jim  Sullivan,"  said  the  other. 
"  I  think  you've  heard  about  me  ?  " 

"  Quite  a  lot,"  replied  Edward,  dryly.  "  It's 
your  real  name,  I  suppose  ?  " 

"  It'll  do  as  well  as  another.  After  all, 
what's  in  a  name  ?  ' 

"  Ah,  you  study  the  great  bard,  I  see." 

"  When  I  have  time,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Between  the  murders,  so  to  speak,"  said 
Edward. 

"  Keep  civil,  Captain  Denham,  it  will  pay 
you  best,"  growled  the  other,  giving  his  arm  a 
twist. 

"  Don't  do  that,  please,  it  hurts,"  said  Den- 
ham. "  Now  tell  me,"  he  went  on,  "  I  am 
rather  interested  to  know  what  exactly  you 
want  of  me,  now  you  have  so  successfully — 
er — made  your  cop,  if  I  may  use  the  vulgar 
expression." 

"  You'll  know  later,"  was  the  retort.  "  What 
I  want  to  know  is,  are  you  going  to  behave 
nicely  and  give  us  no  trouble  ?  " 

"  My  good  fellow,  what  a  question.  I  be- 
lieve my  behaviour  is  generally  known  to  be 
quite  irreproachable,  and  as  for  giving  you 
trouble,  I,  unlike  the  usual  Englishman,  hap- 
pen to  know  when  I  am  beaten." 


i8o  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  That's  right,"  replied  Sullivan.  "  Draw 
the  blinds,  Mike."  Mike,  seated  opposite, 
obeyed  promptly. 

"  You  are  very  like  your  brother,  Captain 
Denham,"  went  on  the  big  man. 

"  What,  in  looks  do  you  mean  or  behaviour  ? 
You  certainly  flatter  me  if  the  former." 

"  You're  a  pretty  cool  one,  aren't    you  ?  ' 
was  the  retort. 

"  I  never  see  the  necessity  for  heat  at  any 
time,"  said  Edward  quietly.  "  A  situation 
however  bad  is  never  improved  by  fuming  or 
losing  one's  temper.  Don't  you  find  that  so 
in  your  profession  ?  ' 

"  Never  you  mind  my  profession,  you  leave 
that  alone." 

"  Certainly,"  replied  Edward,  quietly.  "  But 
pardon  me,  Mr.  Sullivan,  I  wish  you  would  loose 
my  arms  and  allow  me  to  smoke.  I  should  feel 
much  happier  if  I  had  a  cigarette." 

"I'm  not  hankering  after  your  happiness," 
growled  the  other. 

"  Well,  that's  an  admission  anyhow ;  all 
the  same  I  am  sure  Mike  over  there  is  hankering 
for  a  smoke  too,  aren't  you,  Mike  ?  ' 

"  You  leave  a  fellow's  Christian  name  alone," 
said  the  man. 

"  I  use  it  only  because  I  don't  know  your 
surname,  though  of  course,  it's  on  the  cards 
that  you  haven't  got  one." 

With  an  oath  the  man  leant  forward  and  dealt 
him  a  blow  on  the  head  with  his  clenched  fist. 

"  Say  that  agin  and  you  get  another." 


A  TEST  OF  LOVE  181 

"  I  wouldn't  dream  of  doing  such  a  thing," 
said  Edward,  wincing  with  pain.  "  Though 
I'm  afraid  you  have  hurt  your  hand  far  more 
than  you  hurt  my  head.  I  hope  so,  sincerely 
anyway."  As  the  man  raised  his  arm  again 
Sullivan  struck  it  aside. 

"  Stow  that,  you  damned  fool,"  he  said. 
'  Thanks,  Mr.  Sullivan,  though  I  confess  your 
action  is  a  surprise  to  me.  Jack  told  me  of  an 
incident  similar  to  the  one  just  past,  with  the 
difference  that  it  concerned  ribs  and  a  boot. 
But  the  method  and  the  circumstances  are  the 
same." 

"  Don't  talk  so  much,"  growled  the  other, 
"  or  I'll  gag  you." 

'  Which  would  hardly  be  pleasant,  would  it  ? 
Thank  you  for  the  polite  and  courteous  warning." 

The  man  seated  on  his  left  had  not  spoken 
and  as  the  car  was  in  darkness  he  could  not  tell 
which  of  the  gang  he  might  be. 

He  understood  now  what  Jack  had  meant 
by  Sullivan's  voice.  It  was  harsh  in  the 
extreme,  he  would  know  it  again  anywhere. 
But  was  his  knowledge  likely  to  be  of  any 
service  to  him  now  ?  He  had  been  fairly  and 
neatly  trapped,  nor  did  he  see  how  he  could 
possibly  have  avoided  it.  He  expected  some 
such  call  sooner  or  later.  Harper  had  even 
hinted  at  it  before  he  went  to  Cornwall.  What 
did  these  devils  mean  to  do  with  him  now  they 
had  got  him  ?  He  was,  in  a  way,  now  as 
dangerous  to  them  at  large  as  Jack  was,  with 
the  difference  that  he  had  not  taken  an  active 


182  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

part  against  them,  nor  had  any  particular 
desire  to  do  so.  He  was  content  to  leave  that 
to  Harper.  But  they  could  not  know  that; 
therefore,  he  had  nothing  to  expect  from  them 
but  hostility,  nothing  to  hope  for  and  a  great 
deal  to  fear.  He  considered  that  his  best  plan 
would  be  to  adopt  a  conciliatory  manner. 

"  Do  you  mind  if  I  ask  a  few  questions, 
Mr.  Sullivan  ?  "  he  said  after  the  silence  had 
lasted  for  some  time. 

"  I  thought  I  told  you  to  hold  your  tongue," 
was  the  reply,  and  he  cursed  himself  for  having 
spoken  at  all.  "  When  you  get  to  your  destina- 
tion you  can  talk,"  went  on  the  man,  "  and  then 
it  will  be  I  who  will  ask  the  questions  and  you 
who  will  answer  them." 

After  that  the  silence  lasted  until  the  car 
suddenly  rounded  a  sharp  turn.  He  heard  the 
crunching  of  gravel  under  the  wheels,  and  they 
pulled  up. 

Quick  as  thought  the  door  was  flung  open  and 
the  man  named  Mike  sprang  out.  Denham 
felt  himself  being  dragged  out,  and  with  a  man 
on  each  side  he  was  hurried  up  a  small  flight 
of  steps.  The  car  drove  off,  a  door  slammed 
behind  him. 

He  was  in  a  narrow  passage  dimly  lit  by  gas. 
A  door  at  the  farther  end  opened  and  a  plump, 
respectable  looking  woman  appeared. 

"  Is  that  you,  Jim  ?  "  she  said. 

'  Yes.     It's  me.     All  well  ?" 

"  All  right  now,"  she  said.  "  We've  just 
had  the  police  nosing  round,  but  of  course  they 


A  TEST  OF  LOVE  183 

had  to  go  away  disappointed.  They  went 
just  in  time,  or  I  would  have  signalled  you  to 
turn  back." 

"  Good/'  said  the  other.  '  We'll  go  straight 
down  now." 

"  You  got  him  I  see,"  said  the  woman. 

"  One  of  'em,"  was  the  reply. 

Edward  Denham  glanced  at  the  other  man 
who  held  him.  He  recognised  him  by  his 
height  and  long  moustache  as  the  man  who 
went  by  the  name  of  Appleton.  He  found 
himself  being  pulled  now  down  the  passage 
into  the  room  from  whence  the  woman  had 
appeared.  It  was  just  an  ordinary  apartment 
such  as  most  modern  villas  own  and  lit  by 
electricity.  He  saw  another  woman  sitting  in 
an  arm-chair,  but  on  their  entrance  she  got  up 
quickly  and  came  a  step  towards  them.  He 
noticed  that  she  was  extraordinarily  pretty  in 
a  common,  garish  way,  and  that  there  was 
a  look  of  intense  relief  on  her  face  as  she  saw 
him  standing  between  the  two  men. 

"  Oh  !  "  she  cried.  "  I  thought  for  a  minute 
it  was  the  boy." 

"  Only  his  unfortunate  brother,"  replied 
Denham  with  a  smile. 

"If  it  hadn't  been  for  your  cursed  folly, 
we'd  have  had  the  two  of  them  before  this," 
snapped  the  big  man,  viciously.  "  Now  see 
the  trouble  we  are  put  to." 

"  Nothing  worth  having  is  ever  obtained 
without  trouble,  believe  me,  Mr.  Sullivan," 
observed  Edward  quietly. 


184  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  Didn't  I  tell  you  to  stow  your  gab  ?  " 
snarled  the  other. 

"  Not  exactly  in  those  words,  but  the  meaning 
was  the  same,  I'm  sorry  I  forgot." 

"  Forget  again  and  you'll  know  it.  Mike, 
give  me  a  hand,  and  you  Appleton  take  hold 
of  this  fellow's  other  arm,  and  if  he  gives 
trouble,  break  it." 

"  Oh,  Jim,  how  crude  you  are,"  cried  the 
pretty  girl.  "  You'll  shock  Captain  Denham." 

"  Shut  up,"  he  snapped.  Then  he  bent  and 
seized  the  carpet,  turning  it  back  a  yard. 

Denham  stood  quite  still  watching  them. 
This  then  was  the  secret  of  the  meeting-place, 
held  in  a  cellar,  the  entrance  of  which  was 
extraordinarily  neatly  covered.  For  under  the 
carpet  was  a  double  floor.  The  boards  of  the  top 
were  lifted,  falling  back  on  concealed  hinges 
and  displaying  another  set  of  boards  underneath. 

In  these  he  saw  a  square  cut  out,  which,  on 
the  insertion  of  a  large  bladed  knife  was  raised 
and  lifted  bodily.  Steps  rested  on  the  joists, 
and  down  these  the  man,  Mike,  and  the  one 
who  had  not  spoken  went. 

"  Make  all  secure  when  we  are  below,"  said 
Sullivan  to  the  plump  woman,  who  nodded  in 
reply.  "  Now,  Appleton,  you  go  first  and  take 
him  when  he  gets  down,  I'll  be  last." 

"  Don't  you  want  me  ?  '  asked  the  girl, 
rather  anxiously. 

"  You  !  What  the should  we  want  you 

for  ?  "  was  the  retort.  "  Stay  up  there  and 
keep  quiet  if  you  can." 


A  TEST  OF  LOVE  185 

"  What  a  devil  of  a  temper  you  are  in,  Jim," 
she  said,  flushing  hotly. 

"  You  leave  my  temper  alone  or  you'll  feel 
some  of  it  as  well  as  hear  it." 

Denham  looked  at  the  girl.  This  then,  was 
the  woman  who  had  been  the  means  of  saving 
Jack  twice.  He  had  no  cause  to  feel  enmity 
towards  her.  Now  he  felt  a  great  pity  and 
compassion.  He  showed  it  in  his  face  and 
she,  suddenly  turning,  saw  it.  The  next 
instant  she  had  shrugged  her  shoulders  and 
turned  away. 

"Go  on  down,  you,"  growled  Sullivan  giving 
Denham  a  push.  There  was  nothing  for  it 
but  to  comply  with  the  order,  though  he  felt 
instinctively  that  he  was  going  to  his  death. 
He  climbed  down  the  ladder,  and  as  his  feet 
touched  the  ground,  he  once  more  felt  his  arms 
seized.  He  looked  round.  They  were  in  a 
cellar  evidently,  the  wall  of  one  side  of  which 
had  been  newly  bricked  up.  Possibly  the  house 
contained  but  one  good  sized  cellar,  which  these 
ingenious  people  had  divided  into  two;  the 
entrance  to  the  one  being  from  the  back  passage 
through  a  door  and  down  a  normal  flight  of 
steps ;  the  entrance  to  the  other,  the  one 
through  which  he  had  come.  Two  lamps 
lighted  the  place,  and  at  a  rough  wooden  table 
sat  a  fourth  man,  masked  and  whose  voice  he 
had  not  yet  heard. 

The  trap  door  closed  overhead.  Then  Sullivan 
sat  down  at  the  top  of  the  table,  the  two  others 
taking  their  places  on  either  side  of  him. 


i86  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"Now  Captain  Denham,"  he  said,  "I'll 
be  quite  frank  with  you.  I've  got  you  here  to 
ask  you  a  question,  and  I  may  as  well  tell  you 
that  you  don't  leave  this  place  alive  unless  you 
tell  us  what  we  want  to  know." 

"  Is  that  so  ?  "  said  Edward  gravely.  "  And 
do  I  really  leave  it  alive  if  I  do  tell  you  what 
you  wish  to  know  ?  You  have  shown  me  so 
much,  you  see — this  place,  the  way  you  get  here. 
The  only  thing  that  I  can't  understand  is  how 
you  avoid  the  police  on  watch  spotting  you  in 
your  car." 

'  Then  you  shall  be  informed,"  said  Sullivan. 

'  Is  it  wise,  do  you  think  ?  "  asked  Applet  on. 

"  Why  not,  he  knows  everything,  doesn't 
he  ?  If  he  wasn't  a  born  fool,  he  would  have 
spotted  our  dodge  himself.  It's  simply  this," 
he  went  on  turning  again  to  Denham,  "  with 
the  driver  in  police  uniform  we  are  merely  taken 
for  a  police  car  and  can  pass  without  difficulty. 
There  is  a  back  lane  to  this  house.  It  is 
quite  simple,  and  we  so  seldom  meet  now 
since  the  advent  of  your  cursed  brother  on  the 
scene,  that  the  risk  is  small." 

"  Having  told  me  this,  am  I  still  to  believe 
that  I  leave  here  alive  if  I  answer  your  ques- 
tions ?  "  asked  Denham,  quietly. 

'  You  are,  provided  that  you  swear  never  to 
betray  us." 

"  And  would  you  trust  me,  you,  who  don't 
trust  a  living  soul  ?  " 

'  We  would  trust  you.  Bob  Vincent  assures 
us  that  your  word  stands,"  was  the  reply. 


A  TEST  OF  LOVE  187 

'  Who  did  you  say  ?  "  demanded  Edward. 

"  I    said    Bob    Vincent,"    replied    Sullivan. 

'  You  know  him,  I  believe,  there  he  is."     He 

pointed  to  the  fourth  man  seated  at  the  table. 

'  You  infernal  fool,"  retorted  Vincent,  taking 
off  his  mask.  "  Didn't  I  make  it  a  bargain 
that  you  wouldn't  mention  my  name  ?  I 
came  with  you  to  make  up  your  number, 
not  to  be  given  away." 

Sullivan  laughed. 

"  Don't  worry,"  he  said,  and  winked  at  him. 

"  So,"  said  Edward,  "  you  are  the  unutterable 
blackguard  who  sent  that  wire  to  me,  are  you  ? 
There  was  such  loathing  and  contempt  in  his 
tone  that  even  Vincent  winced.  "  I  never 
liked  you,  but  I  never  dreamt  you  were  as 
vile  as  this.  Mr.  Sullivan,"  he  turned  to  the 
leader,  "  I  would  not  stoop  to  beg  a  favour 
of  you,  God  knows,  but  I  do  ask  that  out  of 
decency  you  tell  this  man  to  go,  he  is  not  neces- 
sary to  this  conference,  and  however  bad  you 
others  may  be,  at  least  you  don't  stoop  as  low 
as  he  does." 

"  How  do  you  mean  ?  "  demanded  Sullivan, 
frowning. 

"  His  job,  I  take  it,"  replied  Edward,  gravely, 
"is  to  make  the  robberies  committed  at  his 
friends'  houses  easy." 

Vincent  got  up  with  a  laugh. 

"  Don't  worry,  Jim,"  he  said.  "  I'll  go 
without  being  asked.  What  you  do  now  is 
no  concern  of  mine,  I've  done  my  part  and  now 
I'm  off  home.  So  long.  Let  me  know  if  and 


i88  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

when  you  succeed.  I'm  going  into  the  country 
in  a  few  days  and  will  send  you  my  address." 
He  turned  and  went. 

"  And  now,"  said  Edward,  "go  on  with  the 
questions.  I'll  do  my  best  for  you,  I  can't 
say  fairer." 

"  All  right.  It's  only  one  question  I  want 
answered,"  said  Sullivan.  "  Tell  me  exactly 
what  you  have  done  with  your  brother  ?  ' 

He  was  not  surprised  at  the  question,  he  had 
expected  it  and  was  prepared  with  his  answer. 

"  He  is  in  a  nursing  home." 

'  That's  a  damned  lie,"  said  the  other. 

"  And  that's  not  polite,  Mr.  Sullivan," 
retorted  Denham. 

"  Answer  my  question.  I  know  he  is  not  in 
any  nursing  home.  It  was  all  a  damned  plant 
that  ambulance  and  stretcher  game.  I  sent 
one  of  my  men  to  find  out." 

"Oh,  yes,  I  suppose  so,"  said  the  other. 
"  Nevertheless,  I  assure  you  on  my  word  of 
honour  as  a  gentleman  that  it  is  true." 

Sullivan  rapped  on  the  table. 

"  Look  here,"  he  said  sharply.  "  You  are 
not  here  to  tell  me  any  of  your  lies,  and  if  you 
persist  in  your  present  attitude  I'll  give  you 
something  that  will  make  you  alter  your  tone. 
You  have  smuggled  your  brother  off  some- 
where, and  I  insist  on  your  telling  me  where 
he  is.  Do  you  hear  ?  " 

"  I  hear,  Mr.  Sullivan,"  replied  Edward 
quietly.  "  And  I  have  told  you  the  truth, 
more  than  that  I  will  not  say." 


A  TEST  OF  LOVE  189 

Sullivan  sprang  to  his  feet. 

"  If  you  don't  tell  me  of  your  own  accord, 
I'll  have  it  thrashed  out  of  you,"  he  said. 
Denham  was  silent,  he  knew  that  what  this  man 
threatened  he  would  do. 

"  Your  man  lied  palpably  when  he  said  he 
had  gone  to  a  nursing  home.  He  is  not  good 
at  lying,  though  he  ought  to  be,  being  your 
servant."  A  retort  rose  to  Denham 's  lips,  but 
he  swallowed  it  down. 

"  Obviously  then,  you  have  sent  your  brother 
somewhere  out  of  our  way.  He  certainly 
would  not  have  gone  of  his  own  free  will,  he  is 
far  too  big  a  fool.  He  is  bent  on  getting  his 
own  back  on  us,  and  nothing  short  of  shutting 
him  up  somewhere  would  stop  him.  He  has 
killed  two  of  my  men  already.  You  know  this 
just  as  well  as  I  do;  that  being  the  case,  just 
hand  over  what  you  know  about  it." 

"  It's  the  last  thing  I  should  dream  of  doing," 
said  Denham  quietly.  "  And  as  for  his  killing 
your  men,  the  Frenchman  fired  first  and  missed ; 
the  other,  known  as  Alf  died  from  gas  poisoning, 
intended  for  my  brother." 

"  Didn't  I  tell  you  ?  "  demanded  Applet  on. 
"  Didn't  I  tell  you  he  would  say  that  ?  All  this 
trouble  for  nothing." 

"  Shut  your  trap,  man,  and  don't  make  your- 
self a  bigger  fool  than  you  look.  Captain 
Denham  will  answer  my  question,  if  not  now, 
then  later.  I  suppose  you  quite  realise  the 
position  you  are  in  here  ?  "  he  went  on,  turning 
to  his  victim. 


igo  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  Nothing  could  be  clearer,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Not  quite  clear  enough,  evidently,  other- 
wise you  would  answer  my  question." 

"  You  make  a  big  mistake  when  you  say  that, " 
said  the  other  quietly.  '  Whatever  you  may 
threaten  to  do  to  me  you  will  never  alter  my 
determination.  If  you  knew  where  my  brother 
was,  you  would  get  at  him  and  eventually  kill 
him.  Therefore  from  my  lips  you  will  never 
know.  Get  this  into  your  head  now  and  for 
always,  it  is  fairer  to  you  to  know  it,  though  I 
don't  consider  that  as  a  good  reason,  but  at 
any  rate  it  will  save  time  and  unnecessary 
talk." 

"  Is  that  your  last  word  ?  ' 

"  Absolutely  my  last  word." 

"  Very  well,  then,  I  will  tell  you  what  mine 
is.  Until  you  make  up  your  mind  to  give  the 
information  I  want,  neither  food  nor  drink  will 
you  have  ;  you  will  be  kept  down  here,  where 
no  one  will  find  you.  If  you  shout  you  will 
not  be  heard.  Morning  and  evening  one  of  us 
will  come  for  your  answer.  Until  you  give  it 
you  know  what  to  expect." 

'  I  have  given  it,"  said  Denham  quietly. 

"  Wait  till  the  pangs  of  thirst  and  hunger 
come,"  was  the  reply.  "  You'll  find  the  cement 
hard  for  a  bed,  and  it's  a  bit  damp  and  chilly 
down  here,  but  I  daresay  you  won't  mind, 
for  a  bit,"  he  added  significantly. 

"  Come  on  you  fellows,  we'll  be  going.  It's 
about  time  we  went  to  bed."  Then  turning 
to  Denham,  "  I  shall  ring  up  your  servants  and 


A  TEST  OF  LOVE  191 

give  a  message  to  say  you  have  had  a  slight 
accident  and  are  staying  with  a  friend  for  a 
few  days,  you  see  it  wouldn't  do  for  inquiries 
to  be  made." 

"  Look  here,  Jim,"  said  Applet  on,  suddenly 
pausing.  '  Why  not  buckle  him  into  that  nice 
little  contraption  you  got  fixed  for  his  brother  ? 
He'll  give  in  all  the  sooner  and  we  shall  gain 
time."  He  pointed  to  the  wall  opposite  the 
trap-door  as  he  spoke,  and  Edward  turned  and 
looked  in  that  direction.  He  saw  something 
dangling  from  the  wall,  but  could  not  distinguish 
what  it  was.  Jim  Sullivan  looked  at  the  tall 
soldierly  figure  and  rubbed  his  chin. 

"  No,"  he  said.  "  That  will  do  later,  if  he 
holds  out,  but  I'll  just  let  you  see  it,  captain, 
and  I'll  explain  what  happens,  the  knowledge 
may  oil  your  tongue."  He  took  Edward  by 
the  arm  and  led  him  to  the  other  side  of  the 
room. 

'  You  see  these  two  chains,  about  six  feet 
apart  ?  Well,  when  we  get  your  brother,  these 
leather  wristlets  go  round  his  wrists.  He  is 
then  forced  by  this  collar  to  stand  on  tiptoe  ; 
you  realise  the  strain  that  means,  if  he  tries  to 
stand  on  his  feet  this  broad  collar  in  the  centre 
will  choke  him." 

'  I  see,"  said  Edward.  "  Thank  God,  if  I 
can  help  it,  he'll  never  have  to  go  through  it." 

"  Don't  you  be  so  sure  of  that,"  went  on  the 
other.  "  Then  you  see  that  broad  strap  just 
below,  that  goes  round  his  ribs,  and  if  buckled 
to  cracking  point,  will  hurt  some,  I  imagine. 


i92  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

Same  with  the  other  which  goes  round  his 
waist.  Every  breath  he  draws  will  be  a  little 
hell  of  its  own.  I  invented  all  this  myself, 
thought  it  out  when  I  couldn't  sleep  one  night, 
and  what's  more,  I've  tried  it  myself.  I  stood 
it  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour  and  then  fainted. 
How  does  it  strike  you  ?  ' 

"  I  congratulate  your  ingenuity,  Mr. 
Sullivan,"  replied  Edward  quietly.  "  And  if 
I  may  give  you  my  candid  opinion,  I  consider 
that  while  you  are  alive  the  world  is  not  a  fit 
place  to  live  in." 

Jim  Sullivan  laughed. 

"  Well,  think  it  over,  if  you  haven't  given 
in  after  three  days,  you'll  get  that.  Good 
night,  captain,  I  wish  you  pleasant  dreams." 

One  by  one  they  climbed  the  ladder  and 
disappeared.  At  last  Edward  Denham  was 
alone.  They  had  left  the  lamps  there,  turning 
one  out.  So  he  lowered  the  other,  husbanding 
the  oil  and  wick  for  as  long  as  he  could.  He 
wondered  how  long  it  took  to  starve  to  death. 
He  remembered  that  those  Irish  prisoners 
took  ages  over  it,  but  then  they  had  water, 
and  he  understood  that  anyone  could  live  on 
water  for  quite  a  considerable  time.  Without 
it  death  would  be  very  quick,  well,  better  his 
death  than  Jack's.  The  younger  brother  had 
been  his  mother's  favourite,  and  he  had  promised 
at  her  death  to  care  for  him  and  help  him  in 
everything.  He  would  do  it  now.  It  would 
be  terrible  for  Aileen,  but  time  would  heal 
everything.  Well,  it  was  hard  to  die  like  a  rat 


A  TEST   OF   LOVE  193 

in  a  trap,  but  there  was  nothing  else  for  it. 
He  had  matches  and  a  few  cigarettes  left.  He 
would  smoke  one  now  and  turn  down  the  lamp, 
leaving  only  a  glimmer,  then  he  would  try  and 
get  to  sleep. 

Tired  out,  in  spite  of  his  position  with  its  utter 
horror  and  hopelessness,  he  slept  soundly  and 
was  awakened  by  the  trap-door  opening  and  a 
voice  speaking. 

"  Changed  your  mind  yet  ?  " 

"  No,"  he  said. 

The  trap-door  slammed  down.  Three  times 
the  question  was  repeated,  the  same  question, 
the  same  answer.  That  meant,  reflected  the 
thirst-tormented  man  that  it  was  the  evening 
of  the  second  day.  Twenty-four  hours  only. 
But  he  wanted  only  water,  water  and  warmth. 
Food  he  could  do  without  for  a  bit,  but  to- 
morrow— what  would  it  be  like  to-morrow  ? 
Poor  old  Jack,  would  he  have  done  the  same 
for  him  ?  Why,  of  course,  he  must  be  going 
mad  for  such  a  question  to  have  entered  his 
mind.  Mad  !  Yes,  probably  that  would  be 
the  end  of  it.  All  things  he  had  read  of  con- 
nected with  starvation,  in  historical  tragedies, 
came  surging  to  his  recollection.  The  boy, 
who  was  he  ?  He  couldn't  remember  his  name 
now,  but  he  was  a  prince  or  a  duke,  imprisoned 
in  Scotland,  and  starved  to  death.  He  had 
gnawed  his  own  hand  before  he  died.  Would 
he  be  reduced  to  that  ?  No,  he  thought  not. 
He  lay  down  on  the  hard  floor  once  more,  sleep 
was  what  he  wanted,  but  sleep  wouldrf't  come ; 

N 


194  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

instead,  that  craving  for  water  and  warmth. 
At  last  he  dozed  and  dreamt  that  he  heard 
a  sound,  a  most  insistent  sound  it  was  and 
very  close  to  him.  Surely  it  was  a  voice, 
and  yet  there  could  be  no  voice  down  here,  they 
had  come  with  that  question  hours  ago,  and 
had  their  answer.  Now  he  was  alone  until 
the  morning.  No,  there  it  was  again.  Wide 
awake  he  sat  up. 

"  Mr.  Denham  !  Oh,  for  God's  sake  answer, 
Mr.  Denham !  "  It  was  a  woman's  voice, 
low  down  near  the  floor. 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  hoarsely.  "  Yes,  what  is 
it?  Who  are  you  ?  ' 

"I'm  Molly,  you  know,  your  brother's 
friend,"  answered  the  voice.  "  Can  you  hear  ?  ' 

"  Yes,  yes,"  he  said.  "  But  I  don't  under- 
stand, Jack's  friend  ?  ' 

"  Oh,  never  mind  that,  I  couldn't  come 
before,  they  made  it  impossible.  I  loosened 
a  brick  one  day  in  the  new  wall,  because  I 
wanted  to  hear  what  they  talked  about  down 
here.  They  are  all  out,  and  I'm  alone  for  a  time." 

"  I  see,"  said  Denham.  "  Could  you,  do 
you  think,  give  me  some  water,  I'm  parched." 

'  The  hole  is  not  big  enough,"  she  said. 
"  But  I've  got  a  basin  of  water  and  a  sponge, 
I'll  soak  it  and  push  it  through.  There  !  Can 
you  feel  it  ?  " 

Denham  grasped  the  piece  of  soaking  sponge, 
drew  it  out  and  sucked  desperately. 

"  More,"  he  said,  "  and  thank  you,  thank 
you,  Molly."  He  heard  a  sob  choked  back. 


A  TEST  OF  LOVE  195 

"  It's  to  help  you  not  to  tell.  Oh,  Mr.  Denham, 
you  mustn't  tell.  They'd  kill  him  and  you 
too,  and — I  couldn't — I  couldn't — ."  The  voice 
broke  in  another  sob. 

"  Can  you  help  me  get  a  message  through  ?  ' 
he  asked  then,  anxiously,  desperately. 

"  Not  to  the  police,  I  can't  give  my  friends 
away,  but,  listen,  can  you  hear  ?  " 

'  Yes,  yes." 

"  If  you  will  tell  me  where  the  boy  is,  your 
brother,  I'll  'phone  to  him  and  get  him  to  come 
and  help  you.  I  can't  by  myself,  I'm  not 
strong  enough,  I  can't  lift  the  trap-door,  but 
together  we  could  do  it.  Will  you  tell  me 
where  he  is  ?  ' 

Denham  ground  his  teeth  and  suppressed 
an  oath. 

"  Another  trap,"  he  said.  "  Yes,  if  I  tell 
you,  then  they  will  know,  won't  they  ?  You 
can't  fool  me  like  that,  woman." 

"Oh,  you  are  mad  !  "  she  cried.  "  Didn't 
I  tell  you  I  gave  you  water  to  help  you  hold 
out  against  them.  In  another  day  or  two  you 
will  be  telling  them  anything  they  ask  and  you 
won't  be  able  to  help  yourself.  Do  you  think 
I  don't  know  ?  You're  a  fool,  you  are  as  bad 
as  your  brother,  who  knows  nothing  about 
women.  I  tell  you  I  want  to  save  him ;  if  one 
of  you  must  go,  then  it  must  be  you.  Does 
that  satisfy  you  ?  If  it  doesn't,  I'll  poison 
you  before  you  can  be  tortured  into  telling." 

The  voice  was  impassioned,  agonised,  truth 
rang  loud  to  his  ears.  She  must  mean  it, 


196  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

oh,  yes,  no  woman  could  speak  in  such  a  tone 
and  not  mean  every  word  she  said. 

It  was  Jack  she  wanted  to  save,  not  him ; 
he  was  to  be  fed  only  so  that  he  would  have  the 
strength  not  to  give  away  Jack,  but  if  Jack 
could  come  and  save  him,  this  woman  was 
willing  to  help.  Only  there  must  be  no  risk 
for  Jack. 

"  If  my  brother  comes,"  he  said,  "  he  will 
bring  the  police  too." 

"  He  won't  if  I  tell  him  not  to,"  she  replied. 
"  But  don't  waste  time  on  fool  arguments,  Mr. 
Denham.  If  I  am  to  'phone  him,  I  haven't 
long  to  do  it  in,  they  may  be  here  at  any  time 
now.  Will  you  tell  me  ?  " 

"Yes,"  he  said.  "I'll  trust  you,  girl,  I 
have  to.  It's  a  trunk  call  and  may  take  time. 
He's  in  Cornwall  at  Dr.  Watman's  house, 
Treloar  Hall,  Treloar.  I  don't  remember  the 
number.  In  return  for  what  you  do,  if  he  comes 
and  I  can  get  away,  I  will  promise  not  to 
give  away  what  I  know.  That  is  only  fair  to 
you." 

'  You're  a  white  man,  Mr.  Denham,"  said 
the  girl.  "  You  are  more  like  your  brother 
than  I  thought.  I'll  go  now,  I  don't  have 
anything  to  do  with  prayers  and  that  sort 
myself,  but  if  you  believe  in  it,  then  get 
going  on  to  whoever  you  think  will  hear 
you  and  ask  that  they  don't  catch  me  at  the 
'phone." 

After  that,  silence,  and  Edward  Denham,  on 
his  knees  now,  buried  his  face  in  his  hands. 


A  TEST  OF  LOVE  197 

In  the  room  above  a  voice  was  calling. 

'  Trunk,  yes.  Treloar  103,  and  hurry,  for 
the  Lord's  sake  hurry.  Oh,  I  know,  of  course 
you  do,  but  get  on  with  it,  there's  a  dear." 

Up  and  down  the  room  she  paced,  pausing 
with  beating  heart  at  every  sound  outside. 
Once  more  to  the  door,  back  again  to  the  window. 
Ah  !  a  car  stopped  at  the  gate.  No,  it  was  going 
on  again.  Oh  !  how  she  would  like  to  kill 
that  driver  who  had  caused  her  that  moment's 
agony.  How  long  would  they  be,  her  friends, 
and  the  call,  would  they  both  come  together  ? 
Things  generally  happened  like  that  in  this 
blinking  upside  down  old  world.  They  always 
went  wrong,  when  it  would  be  so  easy,  just  as 
easy  in  fact,  to  go  right.  Jim  was  taking  his 
friends  back  to  their  houses,  he  would  return 
alone,  but  he  was  all  that  mattered,  she  could 
gull  the  rest  of  the  crowd,  not  Jim.  No  one 
had  ever  taken  him  in ;  the  only  time  she  had 
done  so  was  when  she  wired  to  the  boy  Jack's 
brother  to  meet  him  at  Victoria  Station,  and  for 
suspecting  that  she  had  helped  he  had,  oh, 
well,  never  mind  what  he  had  done.  It  was 
over,  but  he  hadn't  seemed  to  trust  her  after 
that,  not  as  he  used  to.  Oh !  damn  Exchange, 
why  didn't  they  hurry  ?  In  America  they  did 
things  better,  she  knew  that  for  she  had  been 
there  ;  nowhere  on  earth  was  the  telephone 
system  so  bad  as  in  England.  Then  she 
laughed.  On  earth  !  Did  they  have  it  in 
heaven,  or  in  hell  ?  She  hoped  not,  if  she 
was  to  go  to  one  place  or  the  other.  She  hated 


198  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

telephone  calls,  it  always  meant  some  worry  or 
trouble 

Ah  !  there  was  the  bell,  good  girl,  bless  her, 
she  had  put  her  through  quickly. 

"  Yes,  yes,  who  is  it  ?  Barton?  No,  I  don't 
want  you,  I  want  Mr.  Denham,  quick,  please, 
say  its  urgent.  What  ?  No,  no,  you  damn 
fool,  I  can't  hear.  What,  neither  can  you  ? 
Well,  I'm  thankful  for  that,  I  didn't  mean  it. 
Now,  slowly,  I — want — Mr.  Denham.  Do  you 
hear  all  right  ?  He's  out  ?  Fetch  him  in  then, 
quick,  tell  him  a  lady  wants  him,  urgent, 
desperately  urgent.  All  right,  I'll  hold  on, 
don't  you  worry." 

Oh  would  he  never  come.  Wasn't  it  a  car  ! 
Yes,  of  course  it  was.  No,  it  was  going  on  again. 
Oh,  boy,  boy  why  don't  you  come  ?  Yes, 
this  time  it  was2a  car  and  turning  in  at  the 
gate. 

'Yes,  yes,  it's  me,  Molly.  Can  you  hear? 
Your  brother  is  trapped  and  being  starved  to 
death  unless  he  tells  my  pals  where  you  are. 
Oh  !  yes  of  course  it's  true,  but  listen,  Jim's 
coming  back  and  will  catch  me.  Will  you  come  ? 
Swear  you  will  not  bring  the  police,  I  will  help 
you,  look  out  for  you.  No,  curse  your  fool 
head,  it's  not  a  trap,  it's  to  save  you  both. 
Soon  he'll  not  be  able  to  hold  out  and  will 
give  you  away.  Quick,  quick  he's  coming, 
swear  you  won't  tell.  All  right,  boy,  and  then 
go  to  Lennox  Street  and  wait  until  I  ring  you 
up  to  say  I  am  alone,  then  come.  You'll  come  ? 
Yes,  boy.  It's  the  house  with  the  yellow 


A  TEST  OF  LOVE  199 

gates    at   Golder's    Green,    Mr.    Brandscome's 
house." 

The  door  opened,  the  receiver  rang  home, 
the  girl  stood  facing  him  as  he  entered. 

"  Oh,  thank  God,  thank  God  !  "  she  cried. 
'  Why,   girlie,  what's   the  matter  ?  'J 

"  I  thought  that  something  had  happened 
to  you,  you  were  so  long.  But  it's  all  right, 
and  oh,  I'm  so  happy." 

She  flung  herself  into  Jim  Sullivan's  arms 
and  burst  out  crying. 

"  Lord  Almighty  be  good  to  us !  "  he 
exclaimed,  patting  her  head.  '  Was  there  ever 
such  a  queer  thing  invented  as  a  woman. 
What's  up,  old  girl  ?  ' 

"  Nothing,  only  I'm  so  thankful  now  that  I 
know  it's  all  right." 

And,  so  that  he  could  not  see  her  face,  she 
kept  it  buried  on  his  shoulder. 


CHAPTER  VII 

METHOD   IN   HIS   MADNESS 

JACK  DENHAM  lay  in  bed  with  the  autumn 
sun  pouring  in  through  the  windows.  He 
was  reflecting  on  the  queer  happenings 
during  these  last  few  months  that  had  ulti- 
mately ended  in  his  being  shut  up  in  a  private 
nursing  home  in  Cornwall.  And  the  strangest 
part  of  all  was  finding  the  woman  who  had 
been  the  innocent  cause  of  all  his  troubles  here 
as  well.  He  had  often  wondered  what  she 
was  like  ;  in  some  queer  way  he  had  pictured 
her  as  resembling  that  dream- woman  of  his 
who  so  constantly  haunted  his  sleeping  hours, 
and,  stranger  still,  he  had  found  that  dream 
come  true.  For  she  was  beautiful,  adorable, 
as  only  his  dream-woman  could  have  been. 
So  had  he  pictured  the  woman  he  would  one 
day  marry.  In  such  a  place  as  this  with  its 
glorious  old  house  and  wonderful  gardens, 
had  he  visualised  their  meeting-place.  And 
now  he  was  here  and  she  was  here,  and  the 
place  was  no  longer  a  prison  but  a  wonderful 
enchanted  world.  And  he  no  longer  chafed 
at  the  twenty  foot  walls  that  surrounded  them, 
or  that  the  gates  were  locked,  or  that  two 


METHOD   IN  HIS    MADNESS      201 

sturdy  attendants  were  there  to  see  that  he 
did  not  get  away.  He  revelled  in  it  and  in 
the  fact  that  it  was  as  impossible  for  him  to 
get  out  as  it  would  be  for  any  of  the  Sullivan 
gang  of  criminals  to  get  in.  Before  this,  his 
one  aim  and  object  in  life  had  been  to  come  to 
grips  with  them,  now  he  only  wanted  them  to 
leave  him  alone  with  his  dream-woman. 

It  was  eight  o'clock,  and  breakfast  was  at 
nine.  He  sprang  out  of  bed  and  into  the  bath- 
room leading  from  his  luxurious  apartment. 
When  half  dressed  there  came  a  knock  at  his 
door,  and  Barton,  the  attendant  who  had  been 
appointed  to  look  after  him,  came  in. 

'  You  are  up  early,  sir,"  he  said  in  surprise. 

"  When  a  day  like  this  calls  how  can  anyone 
lie  in  bed  ?  "  replied  Jack,  gaily.  "  I  suppose 
there  are  no  rules  here  as  to  when  one  may  go 
out,  are  there  ?  ' 

"  None  at  all,  sir,  you  please  yourself.  You 
will  find  Mr.  Smithson  outside,  I  expect." 

'  Who's  that  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

'  The  other  gentleman  who  is  staying  here, 
sir,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Oh,  I  forgot  there  was  another  so-called 
luny  shut  up  here,"  said  Jack  with  a  laugh. 
"  He's  harmless,  I  suppose  ?  ' 

"  Quite,  sir.  Has  queer  ideas  on  some  things, 
and  he's  here  because  his  relations  prefer  to 
pay  a  stiff  price  to  be  rid  of  the  trouble  of 
looking  after  him  themselves." 

"  In  which  case  I  gather  he  is  well  rid  of 
them,"  said  Jack. 


202  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

1  That's  my  own  opinion,  exactly,  sir," 
replied  the  man.  "  Shall  you  be  playing  tennis 
to-day,  sir  ?  If  so,  I'll  put  out  your  things." 

"  It  depends,"  was  the  reply. 

"  I  understand  that  Mrs.  Allwood  plays  very 
well  indeed,  sir,"  said  Barton,  casually. 

"  Oh,  well,  in  that  case,  put  'em  out,"  said 
Jack,  flushing,  and  walking  hastily  to  the  door. 

There  was  no  exit  into  the  passage  from  his 
own  two  rooms  save  through  the  one  in  which 
Barton  slept.  This,  when  he  first  came,  had 
galled  him  exceedingly,  but  now  it  was  different. 
Now  circumstances  had  changed.  No  longer 
did  he  want  to  chase  after  the  gang,  they 
could  go  to  perdition  as  far  as  he  was  concerned. 
There  was  no  longer  any  need  to  watch  him 
and  prevent  a  possible  attempt  at  escape ; 
he  reflected  with  a  grin,  on  his  way  downstairs 
(they  had  put  him  at  the  top  of  the  house  for 
safety) — that  if  instead  of  wanting  to  keep  him 
they  had  wanted  him  to  go,  they  would  have 
to  turn  him  out. 

It  was  on  the  wide  stone  terrace  which  ran 
the  whole  length  of  the  house  that  he  came 
upon  Mr.  Smithson.  He  was  of  medium  height 
and  appeared  to  be  a  few  years  older  than 
Jack,  with  clean  shaven,  humorous  face, 
but  not  a  trace,  as  far  as  Jack  could  see,  of 
mental  deficiency  in  the  expression.  He 
paused  in  his  rapid  walk  and  regarded  the  new- 
comer with  a  genial  smile. 

"  Ah  !  so  you've  come,"  he  said,  as  Jack 
approached.  "  Old  Watman  rang  up  Susie, 


METHOD  IN  HIS  MADNESS       203 

to  say  he  was  bringing  another  luny  along. 
You  know  Susie,  by  the  way,  don't  you  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  Susie,"  replied  Jack.  "  And 
I  may  say  also  that  I  am  not  a  luny." 

'  Then  what  the  deuce  are  you  doing  here  ?  " 
demanded  the  other.  "  No  one  but  a  luny 
would  allow  himself  to  be  taken  to  a  God- 
forsaken hole  like  this.  I'm  one,  you  know," 
he  added  confidentially.  "  At  least  they  all 
think  so,  and  so,  for  the  sake  of  peace  and 
quiet  I  just  humour  them.  As  a  matter  of  fact 
Denham — that's  your  name,  ain't  it  ?  I 
thought  so.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  old  bird,  I've 
actually  got  better  brain  fittings  than  any  of 
the  blighters  here,  only  I  keep  it  as  dark  as 
I  can.  You  won't  give  me  away,  will  you  ? 
You  look  a  sport  !  " 

"  Of  course  I  won't,"  said  Jack,  grinning, 
and  walking  along  the  terrace  at  a  rapid  pace 
in  order  to  keep  up  with  the  other.  "  But, 
tell  me  about  Susie,  I  haven't  met  her,  who  is 
she  ?  ' 

"  She  is  the  buxom  old  soul  who  looks  after 
the  linen  and  one's  garments,  and  keeps  the 
other  servants  in  order.  She's  all  right  if 
you  don't  scratch  her  fur  up  the  wrong  way, 
but  if  you  do,  look  out  for  squalls.  Old  Wat- 
man  swears  by  her,  but  then  you  know,  quite 
between  ourselves,  old  Watman  isn't  quite — 

quite "  he  touched  his  forehead  and  winked 

at  Jack.  "  Poor  fellow,  it's  very  sad,  because 
of  course  he  means  well,  but  if  one  humours 
him  one  can  rub  along  all  right  without  undue 


204  THE  WRONG   NUMBER 

friction.  He  and  Susie  should  go  well  in  double 
harness,  but  not  here,  mark  you.  They  are 
really  neither  of  them  capable  of  running  a 
big  establishment  like  this." 

"  It  appears  to  me  to  be  very  efficiently 
run  indeed,"  said  Jack. 

"  Not  really,  it's  only  the  surface  you  see," 
was  the  reply.  "  You  wait  until  you  have 
been  here  a  couple  of  years  as  I  have,  you'll 
see  then  the  true  state  of  the  case  without 
the  veneer.  Take  Barton's  face,  for  instance. 
Have  you  noticed  it  ?  ' 

"  Lord,  no  !  "  said  Jack,  laughing.  "What's 
wrong  with  it  ?  " 

"  It's  all  wrong,  my  dear  chap,"  replied 
the  other.  "  I  can't  imagine  how  you  missed 
seeing  it,  I  spotted  it  the  first  day  I  was  here, 
and  I  simply  put  my  foot  down  and  refused 
to  have  him  near  me.  One  takes  these  dis- 
likes, you  know — do  you  find  that  so  ?  ' 

"  By  Jove,  yes  !  '"  said  Jack.  "  I  should 
think  one  does.  The  world  would  be  a  pretty 
dull  place  if  one  liked  everyone  one  met  in  it." 

"  That's  what  I  say,"  was  the  reply.  "  And 
old  Potman  is  such  a  damn  fool  he  can't  see  it." 

"  Who's  Potman  ?  "  asked  Jack,  feeling  a 
bit  staggered  by  now. 

"  Oh,  did  I  say  Potman  ?  Stupid  of  me — I 
meant  Watman,  of  course.  I  get  muddled 
with  names  sometimes.  My  memory  is  not 
all  that  it  should  be.  However,  what  was  I 
talking  about  ?  " 

"  Barton's  face,"  suggested  Jack. 


METHOD   IN  HIS  MADNESS       205 

"  Of  course  ;  poor  fellow,  I  often  sympathise 
with  him  and  ask  him  what  it  feels  like  really 
to  have  a  face  like  his.  He  says  he  tries  to 
put  up  with  it,  but  feels  that  one  day  it  will 
be  the  death  of  him.  Well,  there  it  is  !  One 
can't  have  everything.  I  lack  your  inches, 
but  my  brains  make  up  for  it.  Tall  people, 
you  know,  are  never  as  clever  as  shorter  folk — " 

"  Is  that  so  ?  "  inquired  Jack.  "  I  say,  do 
you  mind  going  a  bit  slower,  I'm  getting  out 
of  breath." 

'  You're  not  in  training,  Denham,"  was  the 
reply,  as  the  pace  slackened.  "  Now  Mus- 
grave,  that's  my  servant  here,  you  know — 
he  was  a  prize-fighter.  Well,  he  keeps  me  as 
fit  as  a  fiddle.  He's  a  splendid  chap.  We  go 
for  miles  and  miles  all  round  the  country." 

"  Oh,  so  you  do  go  beyond  the  boundary 
wall  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"  Lord,  yes  !  We  often  go  down  to  the  sea, 
about  seven  miles  from  here,  and  have  a  swim. 
And  then  Mrs. — Mrs. — I  can't  remember  her 
name,  but  the  lady  who  stays  here,  you  know — 
she  takes  me  for  runs  in  her  car.  She's  a  topping 
driver." 

"  Oh,  she's  got  a  car,  has  she  ?  '  Jack 
wondered  if  he  and  she  would  soon  be  going 
for  wonderful  drives  round  the  country,  too. 

"  Yes,  and  that  old  blighter,  Botman,  makes 
use  of  it,  you  know,"  said  the  other.  "  He 
hasn't  got  one  himself  and  whenever  he  wants 
to  go  anywhere,  or  send  for  anything,  he  just 
takes  hers  :  which  makes  me  wonder  sometimes 


206  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

if  he  hasn't  got  more  brains  than  I  give  him 
credit  for,  because  you  see,  Denham,  the 
proof  of  brain  power  is  in  the  aptness  with 
which  you  can  make  the  best  use  of  other 
people  and  their  belongings.  Do  you  get 
me?  " 

"  I  do,"  said  Jack.  "  It's  certainly  one  form 
of  brain  power.  But,  thank  God  there  are 
others." 

"  Not  really,  old  man.  One  thinks  so,  but 
everything  leads  to  the  same  goal  in  the  end— 
the  best  possible  use  of  everything  and 
everybody  for  oneself.  That's  all  Ufe  amounts 
to  really.  The  rest  is  humbug  and  hypocrisy, 
and  leaves  me  cold.  Come  and  let's  stuff  eggs 
and  bacon  into  ourselves.  Watman  hates  un- 
punctuality,  and  of  course  one  tries  to  do 
everything  one  can  to  please  the  dear  old  fel- 
low. He's  got  the  kindest  heart  in  the  world. 
I  don't  really  think  he  would  take  advantage 
of  a  flea — if  he  ever  had  the  chance,  that  is. 
Personally,  I  never  can  get  hold  of  them." 

Jack's  brain  reeled,  but  he  said  nothing, 
and  the  two  turned  back  and  entered  the 
house.  Doctor  Watman  was  in  the  dining- 
room,  and  greeted  the  two^young  men  genially. 

"  Help  yourself,  Denham,  you'll  find  every- 
thing you  want  on  the  sideboard.  How  are 
you,  Peter  ?  Been  for  your  usual  walk  ?  ' 

"  Yes,  doc.  The  pace  wasn't  quite  so 
strenuous  though,  as  our  long-legged  friend 
there  gave  out  in  the  breathing  department. 
Supplies  ran  short,  you  see.  I'll  lend  him 


METHOD   IN  HIS  MADNESS        207 

Musgrave  to  put  him  in  training.  Long  legs 
are  very  well  in  their  way,  but  they  are  not  of 
much  use  here." 

'  That's  true,"  said  Jack,  grinning.  "  Do 
you  play  tennis,  Smithson  ?  ' 

"  Don't  call  me  that,"  said  the  other,  sitting 
down  with  a  huge  plate  of  eggs  and  bacon 
before  him.  "  Call  me  Peter.  Smithson 's  an 
offence,  it's  no  good  to  anyone,  and  as  bad  to 
have  tacked  on  to  one,  as  Barton  must  find  his 
face.  Yes,  I  play  tennis,  but  can't  always 
remember  if  it's  golf  or  croquet,  which  has  its 
disadvantages  sometimes.  However,  if  you 
don't  mind  putting  up  with  that  little  trifling 
inconvenience,  we  might  have  a  go  in  after 
breakfast." 

"  Mrs.  All  wood  plays  well,"  put  in  the  old 
doctor.  "  I  think  a  quiet  game  would  not 
hurt  her  in  the  least.  She  has  had  to  take  it 
very  quietly,  you  see,"  he  went  on.  "  After 
that  terrible  night  three  months  ago,  when  her 
brute  of  a  husband  attacked  her,  her  nerves 
collapsed  entirely.  I  had  known  her  mother, 
and  in  fact  attended  her  at  Elise's  birth,  and 
of  course,  I  took  the  poor  girl  down  here  at 
once  and  did  what  I  could  for  her.  Her  hus- 
band died  in  an  inebriates' home  some  time  ago. 
She  refuses  to  wear  mourning,  which  I  think 
quite  right,  and  fortunately  she  is  well  off, 
her  mother's  money  having  been  settled  on 
her.  She  often  spoke  about  you,  Denham, 
without  knowing  who  you  were,  and  the  way 
you  answered  her  cry  for  help.  She  wondered 


208  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

if  anyone  else  would  have  gone  to  the  rescue 
of  a  strange  woman  as  you  dad." 

"  Anyone  would  have  gone,"  said  Jack, 
flushing. 

"  No  !  "  said  a  low  voice  in  the  doorway. 
"  Not  anyone — or  everyone."  Elise  All  wood 
came  in,  smiling.  "  I  thought  I  would  come 
down  to  breakfast,  doctor,"  she  said,  "  on  such 
a  glorious  day  as  this." 

The  three  men  rose.  The  doctor  drew 
up  a  chair,  Peter  Smithson  hurried  to  the 
sideboard. 

"  I  am  the  commissariat  department,"  he 
said.  "  What  will  you  have,  Elise — one  hen 
seed  and  one  bacon,  or  two  of  both  ?  ' 

"  One  of  each,  Peter,"  she  said,  then  turning 
to  Jack,  "  We  call  each  other  by  our  Christian 
names  here,"  she  said.  "  It  is  easier  for  him 
to  remember." 

"Oh,  don't  mind  me  if  you  want  to  discuss 
my  infirmities,"  said  Peter,  as  he  brought  the 
plate  back  and  placed  it  before  her.  '  The 
doc.  there,  will  tell  you  exactly  what's  wrong 
in  a  few  big  words  which  you  won't  understand, 
and  will  therefore  be  just  as  wise  as  I  am. 
Are  we  going  for  our  spin  this  morning,"  he  went 
on  to  Mrs.  All  wood — "  or  is  the  new  blighter 
going  to  have  a  turn  ?  ' 

Doctor  Watman  coughed.  "  I  think  I  should 
prefer  it,  Mr.  Denham,  if  you  did  not  go,"  he 
said.  '  Your  brother  was  most  anxious  that 
you  should  not  be  seen  by  anyone,  and  under 
the  circumstances,  perhaps " 


METHOD   IN   HIS  MADNESS       209 

"  That's  his  polite  way  of  telling  you,  you 
won't  be  allowed  to  go,"  said  Peter,  nudging 
the  other.  "  It's  very  nice  of  him  to  wrap  it 
up  like  that,  but  of  course  one  sees  through 
the  camouflage  at  once." 

Jack  laughed. 

"  I  don't  think  any  of  us  will  go,"  said  Mrs. 
All  wood.  "  I  would  far  rather  stay  here 
quietly,  and  perhaps  you  would  care  for  a 
game  of  tennis,  Mr.  Denham." 

"  I  understood  that  Christian  names  only 
were  used  in  this  particular  mad  house,"  said 
Peter — "  or  is  it  only  to  humour  me  ?  ' 

"  Of  course  not,  you  silly  owl,"  said  Jack, 
noting  the  touch  of  pathos  in  the  other's  voice 
and  quick  to  answer  to  the  call.  "  I  am  Jack, 
and  the  lady  is  Elise — what  a  charming  name, 
by  the  way." 

'  Yes,  suits  her,  don't  it  ?    Shall  I  come  and 
pick  up  the  balls  for  you  ?  "  asked  Peter. 

"  Better  go  for  your  walk,  hadn't  you  ?  ' 
suggested  the  doctor. 

"Oh,  I  see,  want  to  get  rid  of  me,  on  the 
principle  that  two's  company,  and  three's 
an  army  corps.  All  right,  I'll  trot." 

Elise  glanced  appealingly  at  Jack. 

"  No,"  he  said,  responding  at  once  to  her 
unspoken  wish.  "I'm  afraid  you  can't  go 
for  your  walk  to-day  either,  Peter.  We  want 
you  to  help,  so  don't  be  a  selfish  beggar  for 
once,  but  stop  with  us,  will  you  ?  ' 

Whatever  disappointment  he  may  have  felt 
at  the  spoiling  of  his  tete-a-tete,  it  was  quickly 


2io  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

made  up  for  by  the  look  of  intense    pleasure 
that  lit  up  the  other's  face. 

'  Thanks,  Denham,"  said  the  old  doctor. 

"  His  people  never  come  to  see  him,"  said 
Elise  to  Jack,  as  later  on,  they  strolled  down 
to  the  tennis  court.  "  They  don't  care  what 
happens  to  him,  I  believe.  Fortunately  he 
is  in  good  hands,  but  it  would  be  the  same  thing 
if  he  were  not.  Sometimes  my  blood  boils 
when  I  think  of  it.  For  he  is  the  dearest  boy 
in  the  world." 

"  Nicer  than  Jack  ?  "  asked  her  companion. 

"  Jack  ?     What  Jack  ?  "  she  asked. 

"Oh,  the  fellow  you  wanted  to  ring  up  that 
night,  and  got  on  to  me  instead." 

"  Oh  !  '"  she  laughed.  "  Of  course,  I  had 
forgotten.  Yes,  he  is  just  as  nice  as  Jack." 

"  I  hate  that  fellow,"  said  Denham,  savagely. 

"  No,  don't  do  that,  he  is  very  dear  to  me/' 
was  the  reply. 

'  Why  did  you  call  to  him  that  night  ?  ' 
demanded  Jack,  sternly. 

"  Why  ?  Oh,  because  he  was  the  only 
one  who  knew,  and  would  have  come.  I 
didn't  know  there  was  another  Jack." 

"  But  you  know  now,"  said  he. 

"It  is  being  forced  upon  my  notice,"  said 
she,  smiling.  "  Come,  let  us  play." 

For  an  hour  they  played,  and  half  way  through 
Peter  Smithson  left  them  and  strolled  off,  and 
presently  they  saw  him  in  the  company  of  a 
powerfully  built  man,  walking  swiftly  down  the 
avenue. 


METHOD   IN   HIS   MADNESS       211 

"  What  a  good  soul,"  said  she,  apropos  of 
nothing. 

"  He  has  more  wits  than  lots  of  saner  people 
I  know/'  replied  Jack.  "  You  are  tired,  so 
let's  go  and  sit  in  the  sun  on  the  terrace,  where 
we  met  for  the  first  time  last  night.  I  want  to 
talk — there  is  such  a  lot  to  say,  and  I  feel  that 
if  you  and  I  stayed  here  for  the  rest  of  our 
lives,  we  should  never  get  through  it  all." 

Ten  days  passed — days  that  were  like  a 
wonderful  idyll  to  Jack.  Never  had  he  known 
such  complete  happiness  as  he  found  in  the 
company  of  this  woman.  They  were  twin 
souls,  made  for  each  other.  Here,  at  last, 
in  this  old  world  garden,  shut  away  from  the 
rest  of  the  world  and  its  worries  and  sorrows 
and  sordid  trials,  he  had  at  length  found  perfect 
happiness. 

"  You've  just  got  to  marry  me,"  he  said, 
as  together  they  strolled  among  the  shrubs 
down  by  the  lake,  a  favourite  spot. 

"  I'm  a  year  older  than  you,  dear,"  said  she. 
"  And  that  means  ten  in  a  woman." 

"  Rubbish,"  said  he.  "  That's  sheer  piffle, 
you  know.  Where  love  is,  neither  age  nor 
anything  else  in  the  whole  world  matters." 

"  Does  it  not,  Jack  ?  "  said  she.  "  But  is 
love  really  there  ?  ' 

"  You  know  it  is,"  he  replied.  '  Unless  for 
you  there  is  someone  else." 

"  I  never  said  there  was  anyone  else,  did  I  ?  ' 
she  said,  holding  him  off  when  he  would  have 
caught  her  to  him. 


212  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  There  is  that  other — Jack,"  said  he,  gloomily. 

She  broke  into  a  peal  of  laughter.      "  My 
dear,"  she  said,  "  he  is  my  brother." 

Then  she  was  in  his  arms,  and  for  a  time  all 
else  was  forgotten. 

"  Poor  Peter,"  said  she,  at  last. 

"  Why  Peter  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  He's  very  fond  of  me,"  said  she.  "  But 
he  knows  about  you,  Jack,  and,  mad  though 
he  is  called,  he  has  the  greatest  sanity  of  all — 
the  power  to  rejoice  in  other  people's  happi- 
ness. That  is  why  he  has  always  left  us  to- 
gether. He  likes  you,  Jack,  and  he  loves  me, 
I  think,  and  he  would  do  anything  for  both  of 
us.  His  poor  crippled  mind  will  rejoice  in 
our  happiness.  There  is  no  place  for  jealousy 
there,  you  see." 

"  Poor  fellow,"  said  Jack.  "  Was  he  always 
so?  " 

"  I  believe  not.  Some  great  sorrow  brought 
him  to  this.  The  doctor  knows,  but  of  course 
it  is  his  secret.  I  believe  Peter  was  once  a 
well-known  member  of  society.  The  war,  and 
this  grief  of  his,  produced  the  result  we  see. 
I  wonder  where  he  is.  I  want  him  to  be  the 
first  to  wish  me  joy." 

"  I  saw  him  going  out  with  Musgrave,"  said 
Jack.  "  I  think  I  hear  the  gates  now.  No — 
by  Jove  !  "  he  added.  "  It's  a  car.  I  thought 
no  one  was  allowed  in  here." 

As  he  spoke,  they  both  turned  towards  the 
drive  along  which  a  large  open  car  containing 
three  people  was  coming. 


METHOD  IN   HIS   MADNESS       213 

"It's  Peter  and  Musgrave,"  said  Elise. 
"  But  I  don't  know  the  man  who  is  driving. 
Let's  hurry  on." 

They  gained  the  terrace  by  a  short  cut, 
just  as  the  car  drove  up.  They  turned  the 
corner  in  time  to  hear  the  doctor,  who  had 
come  to  the  door,  call  out  : 

"  Hallo,  Peter  !  What's  this  ?  Found  a 
friend,  eh  ?  ' 

'  Yes,"  said  the  other,  eagerly.  "  A  fellow 
I  used  to  know — before — well,  before  I  came 
here." 

The  new-comer,  slight,  tall,  smiling  and  de- 
bonair, was  half  way  up  the  steps.  Then  Elise 
felt  her  hand  clutched  and  she  winced  with 
the  pain. 

'  What  is  it,  dear  ?     Someone  you  know  ?  " 

"  It's  Robert  Vincent,"  he  said,  between  set 
teeth.  '  The  man  I  saw  in  Staveley  Road,  a 
member  of  that  gang.  The  man  who  accused 
me  of  theft,  and  ruined  my  good  name." 

She  cried  out,  and  tried  to  pull  him  back, 
but  it  was  too  late.  Vincent  had  turned  and 
seen  him.  A  start  of  surprise,  a  broad  smile, 
that  was  all,  but  it  spoke  volumes.  He  was 
shaking  hands  with  the  doctor  as  the  two 
came  up. 

"  I  think  we  have  met  before,  Mr.  Vincent," 
said  Jack,  in  a  hard  voice. 

The  doctor  heard  the  name,  but  knowing 
nothing  of  the  truth  (for  Elise  had  been  the 
only  one  Jack  had  told),  failed  to  realise  the 
nature  of  the  calamity  that  had  happened. 


214  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  I  never  expected  to  find  you  here,  Den- 
ham,"  said  Vincent,  dryly.  "  I  wondered  where 
you  had — er — run  to  ;  this  explains  it." 

Peter  was  looking  from  one  to  the  other, 
innocent  of  the  harm  he  had  done. 

"  I  met  my  friend  on  the  cliff  road,"  he  said 
simply  to  the  doctor.  "  He  was  going  to  stay 
with  friends,  and  so  I  asked  him  to  turn  in  here 
for  a  bit  just  to  see  me.  You  don't  mind,  do 
you  ?  " 

'  Not  at  all,  Peter,"  said  the  old  man  kindly, 
"  bring  your  friend  in  by  all  means." 

They  entered  the  hall.  Elise,  at  a  sign  from 
Jack  went  upstairs. 

"  Quite  a  merry  party,  eh,  Doctor  Watman  ?  ' 
said  Vincent,  cheerily,  as  he  strolled  across  to 
the  fireplace.     "  I  never  thought  when  I  came 
along  here  that  I  should  have  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  Mr.  Jack  Denham." 

"  I  suppose  not,"  said  the  old  man.  "  He 
is  here  for  his  health,  Mr.  Vincent,  I  may  tell 
you  at  once,  and,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  not 
allowed  to  see  visitors." 

Vincent,  realising  by  the  doctor's  manner 
that  Jack  had  not  given  him  away,  felt  a  sense 
of  relief.  He  was  safe  at  any  rate,  which 
would  not  have  been  the  case  had  the  other 
broken  his  word.  But,  after  all,  he  reflected, 
had  he  not  known  that  Jack  Denham 's  word 
was  good,  Jack  would  not  have  left  Normanton 
Hall  alive.  He  turned  affably  to  the  old  doctor. 

"  In  that  case  I  must  apologise  for  my  in- 
trusion here.  But  I  hope  you  will  relax  rules 


METHOD  IN  HIS  MADNESS        215 

a  little  in  my  case,  for  I  would  like  very  much 
to  have  a  word  with  your — er  patient,  is  he, 
or — er — inmate  ?  ' 

"  Patient,  Mr.  Vincent,"  replied  Watman 
quietly.  Somehow  he  did  not  care  very  much 
for  this  young  man,  and  hoped  he  would  go 
soon.  He  was  annoyed  that  Peter  had  brought 
him  in  without  permission,  but,  since  Peter 
could  not  be  regarded  as  responsible  for  his 
actions,  he  had  to  let  it  pass.  But  the  gate- 
keeper should  have  his  instructions  and  in  the 
meantime  he  must  try  and  get  rid  of  this  man 
as  soon  as  possible. 

"  I  will  make  an  exception  in  your  case," 
he  replied,  "  as  you  are  a  friend  of  his,  but  it 
must  only  be  for  ten  minutes."  And  then  he 
left  them. 

Peter,  who  had  been  watching  his  friend  Jack, 
with  the  uncanny  intuition  of  those  of  his 
mentality,  sensed  something  wrong.  He 
couldn't  make  out  what  it  was,  and  he  wanted 
to  find  out  if  he  could  ;  so,  while  the  doctor 
was  speaking,  he,  meaning  no  evil,  and  wishful 
only  to  help  his  friend,  stepped  unnoticed 
behind  the  heavy  curtains  in  the  big  window 
and  listened.  That  all  was  not  well  he  knew. 
He  had  made  some  big  mistake  in  bringing 
this  man  here.  He  must,  therefore,  find  out 
what  it  was,  and  see  what  could  be  done  to 
rectify  it. 

"  So  this  is  where  you  are  skulking,  is  it  ?" 
said  Vincent,  as  the  door  closed  behind  the 
doctor. 


216  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  That's  a  damned  lie,"  retorted  Jack  angrily. 
"  I  am  here  because  my  brother  brought  me, 
by  force,  if  you  want  to  know." 

"  Poor  martyr  !  "  sneered  Vincent.  "  Pin- 
ing away  in  hopeless  captivity  !  Well,  the  gods 
are  evidently  working  on  my  side  for  I  have 
found  you  in  spite  of  all  your  precious  brother's 
elaborate  manoeuvres,  and  I'll  make  it  my  busi- 
ness to  let  Jim  Sullivan  know  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible. I'm  staying  with  friends  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood so  I'll  'phone  from  there.  What  a 
bit  of  blind  luck  for  us,  and  what  a  cursed 
bore  for  you  !  Jim  will  think  nothing  of 
waiting  his  chance  of  a  pot  shot  at  you  from 
one  of  those  walls.  He'll  just  love  it,  and 
you  can't  warn  them  here,  for  that  would  mean 
your  giving  me  away,  and  if  you  do  that  you 
know  what's  in  store  for  your  damned  brother 
and  his  girl,  so  I've  just  got  you  on  toast." 

"  I  begin  to  think  that  you  are  the  worst 
of  the  whole  dirty  gang,"  said  Jack  in  utter 
disgust,  "  not  even  excepting  Jim  Sullivan." 

"  Of  course,"  went  on  Vincent,  ignoring  the 
other's  remark,  "  Jim  will  prefer  it  if  he  can 
get  hold  of  you  alive,  and  put  you  to  death 
in  his  own  funny  little  way.  But  he  can't 
afford  to  go  on  losing  men  as  he  is  doing,  first 
Gaston  and  then  Alf,  so  something  has  to  be 
done  quickly." 

"  I  most  sincerely  trust  you  will  be  the  next," 
said  Jack  with  great  fervour.  "  The  man  who 
does  you  in  will  be  worthy  of  a  crown  in 
heaven." 


METHOD   IN  HIS  MADNESS       217 

Later,  how  bitterly  did  he  regret  those 
words. 

'  Well,  that's  your  opinion,"  replied  the  other 
carelessly,  "and  you  know  how  much  people 
prize  that."  He  turned  and  glanced  round  the 
hall.  "  You've  got  a  bright  and  roomy  gaol 
here.  Any  girls  ?  Or  aren't  they  allowed 
either  ?  " 

"  You  hold  your  damned  tongue,"  said  Jack 
furiously. 

"Oh,  so  there  are  !  Well,  you're  not  so 
badly  off  after  all.  But  I  suppose  I  must 
tear  myself  away,  the  ten  minutes'  interview 
behind  bars  must  be  nearly  over,  and  I  think 
I  hear  the  doughty  governor  returning.  How 
many  gaolers  do  they  put  over  you  ?  ' 

'  You  had  better  clear  out  before  I  hurt  you," 
snapped  Jack. 

"  No,  no,  my  dear  fellow,  no  violence,  it 
doesn't  pay  in  these  kind  of  places.  If  I  know 
anything  of  rules  and  regulations,  it  means 
the  black  hole  or  padded  cell  or  something 
nasty  of  that  sort,  and  I  should  hate  to  think 
of  you  in  either  of  them  on  my  account." 

He  turned  as  Doctor  Watman  came  in,  and 
Peter  slipped  through  the  open  window  out  on 
to  the  terrace. 

"  Is  time  up,  doctor  ?  "  asked  Vincent. 
"  Your  charge  seems  in  fairly  good  health 
and  strength,  if  I  may  judge  from  his  re- 
marks. You  do  the  inmates  very  well  here,  I 
gather." 

"  Patients,"    repeated    the    doctor     calmly. 


218  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  Yes,  I  am  happy  to  say  he  has  greatly  im- 
proved since  he  came." 

"  And  how  long  is  he  in  for — I  mean  here 
for  ?  ' 

'  Until  he  is  well,"  was  the  reply,  "  and 
certain  grave  disorders  that  may  cause  great 
trouble  and  even  threaten  possible  death  are 
removed.  The  time  is  indefinite." 

"  Quite  neatly  put,  eh,  Denham  ?  "  said 
Vincent,  with  a  wink.  "  Well,  so  long,  I  ex- 
pect I'll  see  you  again  shortly.  Keep  smiling, 
I'll  remember  to  give  your  messages  and  love 
to  dear  friend  Jim."  Jack  said  nothing,  and 
Vincent  did  not  attempt  to  shake  hands. 
He  got  into  the  car  and  then  looked  round. 

"  Where's  Peter  ?  "  he  asked.  "  I  want  to 
say  good-bye  to  Peter.  Ah,  there  you  are." 

For  Peter,  who  had  come  through  the  window, 
was  beside  him,  smiling  up  into  his  face  and 
apparently  unconscious  of  the  harm  he  had 
done. 

"  I've  seen  nothing  of  you,  Bob,"  he  said. 
"  Are  you  going  ?  " 

"  Unfortunately,  I  must,"  said  he,  with  a 
grim  smile. 

"  Then  I'll  go  with  you  for  a  bit  along 
the  road  and  walk  back.  How  will  that 
do?" 

"  Splendid  !  "  said  the  other,  and  Peter, 
with  a  glance  at  the  doctor,  who  nodded 
approval,  got  in. 

Musgrave  turned  to  the  doctor,  "  I'll  go  with 
him,  sir,"  he  said,  and  sprang  into  the  car. 


METHOD   IN  HIS  MADNESS        219 

"I'll  only  take  him  a  short  run,  doctor," 
called  out  Vincent.  "  S'long  !  Cheerio,  Den- 
ham."  He  waved  a  hand  to  the  scowling  face 
and  drove  off. 

"  A  cool  hand  that,"  thought  Jack,  grimly. 
'  I  wonder  if — but  hang  it  !  What  else  could 
I  have  done  ?  I  gave  my  word  and  must  just 
trust  to  luck.  Poor  old  Peter,  he  has  no 
idea  of  the  harm  he  has  done.  I  hope  that 
scoundrel  won't  hurt  him."  He  stood  on 
the  terrace  steps  looking  anxiously  down  the 
drive. 

The  old  doctor  at  his  side  gave  a  sigh.  "I'm 
glad  Peter  has  met  a  friend,"  he  said,  "  it 
will  cheer  him  up.  Though,"  he  added,  frown- 
ing slightly,  "  I  can't  say  that  I  care  much 
for  Mr.  Vincent,  though  perhaps  it  is  hardly 
fair  to  judge  on  so  short  an  acquaintance." 

"  I  don't  agree  with  you,"  replied  Jack, 
with  a  grin.  "I'm  all  for  first  impressions 
myself.  It's  marvellous  how  right  one  can  be 
sometimes.  I  don't  like  Vincent  myself,  and — 
er — if  I  may  be  allowed  to  proffer  some  advice, 
I  shouldn't  encourage  our  only  Peter  to  see 
any  more  of  him.  I  hope  he'll  be  all  right," 
he  added,  as  a  sudden  uneasy  sensation  came  to 
him. 

"  Musgrave's  with  him,"  said  the  doctor. 
"He's  just  devoted  to  Peter.  But  I  think 
you  are  right,  my  boy,  I  won't  allow  Vincent 
in  here  again." 

It  was  at  that  moment  that  Elise  came  back 
into  the  room,  and  as  the  doctor  left  them  she 


220  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

went  up  to  Jack  and  looked  anxiously  in  his 
face. 

"  I  heard  what  he  said,  Jack.  So  it  was 
Robert  Vincent  ?  " 

"  I  wonder,"  said  Jack,  by  way  of  reply, 
"  how  long  it  will  be  before  dear  old  Jim  starts 
looking  me  up." 

Elise  put  her  hands  on  his  shoulders  and 
looked  anxiously  into  his  eyes.  "  You  must 
tell  Doctor  Watman,  Jack,"  she  said. 

"  I  can't,  my  dear,  any  more  than  you  can. 
But  don't  worry.  It's  a  bore  he  knows  where 
I  am,  but  he  can't  do  anything.  Jim  and  his 
gang  can't  get  in  and  they  certainly  can't 
get  me  out,  so  I  really  don't  see  what  good  his 
knowledge  will  do  him." 

But  Elise  All  wood  was  not  easily  deceived. 
"  You  are  only  saying  that  to  ease  my  mind," 
she  said  quietly,  "  but  it  does  nothing  of  the 
sort.  Common  sense  tells  me  that  it  is  nothing 
short  of  a  calamity  that  Vincent  has  found  you, 
and  I  don't  care  what  promises  I  made  you. 
Honour  can  go  to  the  four  winds  if  you  are  in 
danger.  I  shall  tell  the  doctor.  Besides," 
she  added,  "  we  can't  let  anything  poor  Peter 
did  in  all  innocence  turn  out  a  calamity  for 
you."  Jack  smiled. 

"  My  blessed  angel,"  he  said.  "  That  sort 
of  argument  won't  wash,  though,  mark  you, 
I  allow  it's  clever.  I  believe  you  women 
could  argue  us  into  believing  the  devil  a  saint 
if  you  wanted  to,  and  prove  it,  what's  more. 
But  it  won't  do.  I  had  no  right  to  tell  you 


METHOD   IN  HIS  MADNESS       221 

about  Vincent,  but  a  man  keeps  no  secrets 
from  his  wife,  and  you  are  practically  that 
now.  No,  my  dear,  wait  a  bit,  I  promise  you  I'll 
take  no  risks,  besides  I  have  no  right  to, 
now  that  you  belong  to  me  and  I  to  you." 

"I'm  afraid  the  doctor  was  right  when  he 
said  I  had  taken  on  more  than  I  could  manage," 
sighed  Elise,  "  though  he  thinks  that  perhaps 
in  time  I  shall  be  able  to  keep  you  in  order." 
They  strolled  away  into  the  garden,  and  for  a 
time  Vincent,  Sullivan,  and  all  connected  with 
them  was  forgotten. 

It  was  nearly  two  hours  later  that  they  heard 
running  footsteps  on  the  gravel  road.  Already 
it  was  growing  dark  and  the  light  was  lit  in 
the  hall.  Jack  and  Elise  were  together  on  the 
sofa,  the  doctor  pacing  anxiously  up  and  down 
the  room.  It  was  long  past  the  time  when 
Peter  should  have  returned.  From  uneasi- 
ness he  gave  way  to  genuine  anxiety.  What 
could  have  happened  ?  Jack,  more  anxious 
even  than  the  doctor — for  with  his  greater 
knowledge  of  the  man  who  had  taken  Peter 
off  he  had  greater  reason — tried  to  reassure 
him.  Any  old  thing  such  as  tyre  trouble  might 
have  happened,  he  argued,  or  Vincent  might 
have  forgotten  the  time,  and 

It  was  then  that  footsteps  were  heard 
outside,  the  door  was  flung  open,  and  Musgrave, 
his  face  like  chalk,  his  hands  bleeding  and 
clothes  torn,  tottered  into  the  hall. 

"  Oh,  my  God,"  he  said,  "  they're  gone  ! 
They  are  both  gone  !  "  Then  he  gave  a  lurch 


222  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

forward,  but  caught  at  a  table  for  support. 
By  this  time  the  doctor  and  Jack  were  beside 
him  and  gently  helped  him  into  a  chair. 

"  Get  me  some  brandy  from  the  dining- 
room,  Denham,"  said  the  old  man. 

"  Oh  !  What  has  happened  ?  "  cried  Elise. 
"  Where  is  Peter  ?  ' 

"  Wait,  my  dear,  let  him  drink  this  first, 
he's  too  far  gone  to  speak,  poor  fellow." 

Presently  the  attendant  raised  his  head. 
"  Thank  you,  sir.  Ill  try  and  tell  you.  It 
was  no  one's  fault — nothing  could  have  stopped 
him.  He  went  out  to  do  it,  I  know  that  now." 

"  Yes,  yes,  man.    Tell  us  what  happened." 

"  It  was  on  the  cliff  road — you  know  those 
awful  rocks,  sir,  and  how  dangerous  the  road 
is  there,  with  those  useless  railings  ?  Mr. 
Peter,  sir,  he  was  sitting  by  the  driver,  and 
chatting  away,  like  you  know  he  does,  when 
suddenly  he  turns  round  to  me.  '  Old  son,'- 
says  he," — here  the  man  suddenly  choked,  and 
the  doctor  laid  a  gentle  hand  on  his  shoulder — 
"  '  Old  son — tell  those  two,  I  wish  them  luck 
and  happiness,  all  they  deserve.  I  rather 
fancy  they'll  pull  it  off  to-day/  and  then,  he 
says  " — here  the  man  paused  once  more,  and 
gulped  hard — "  he  says,  '  you've  been  a  brick 
to  me — God  bless  you.  Tell  Jack  I'm  going 
to  gain  a  crown  in  heaven,'  and  the  next 
minute,  before  I  could  gather  my  wits  to- 
gether he  had  wrenched  the  wheel  round  and 
flung  himself  across  Mr.  Vincent.  We  were 
going  pretty  fast — I  had  got  to  my  feet,  and 


METHOD   IN  HIS  MADNESS       223 

the  sudden  swerve  of  the  car  and  crash,  as 
she  hit  the  rails,  sent  me  off  my  balance.  The 
next  instant,  Mr.  Peter  had  flung  out  an  arm 
and  given  me  a  violent  push.  I  was  thrown 
out  of  the  car  and  on  to  the  edge  of  the  cliff, 
and  I  saw — oh,  my  God  !  will  it  ever  leave  my 
memory  while  I  live  ! — I  saw  the  car  go  over. 
I  heard  a  scream  from  Mr.  Vincent,  and  a 
laugh  from  Mr.  Peter.  You  know  that  cliff, 
sir,  and  just  there,  there's  a  sort  of  hole.  You 
remember  a  cow  fell  down  there  last  year, 
and  had  to  be  left.  Well,  that's  where  they 
went  down,  smashed  to  bits  they  must  have  been 
long  before  they  reached  the  bottom." 

There  was  a  pause,  the  old  doctor  had  sunk 
into  a  chair  and  buried  his  face  in  his  hands. 
Jack,  white-faced,  horror-stricken,  stood  there 
unable  to  utter  a  word,  while  Elise,  on  the  sofa, 
where  she  had  collapsed,  sobbed  unrestrainedly. 

"  I  crawled  over,  part  way  down,  to  see  if  I 
could — could — do  anything,"  went  on  the  man, 
in  a  choking  voice;  "but  there  was  nothing 
to  be  done,  sir,  nothing — nothing.  Poor  Mr. 
Peter,  I  was  that  fond  of  him  !  And  to  think 
— I  shan't  see  him  again — no  more  walks — 
no  more  games — oh,  it's  cruel,  hard  !  My  God  ! 

It's  cruel,  hard  !  I  would  sooner "  A  sob 

choked  the  rest  of  his  words. 

The  doctor  put  a  kindly  hand  on  his  shoulder. 

"  Poor  fellow,"  he  said,  "  I  know,  I  know. 
We  were  all  fond  of  Peter,"  his  voice  shook, 
but  with  an  effort  he  got  control  of  himself. 
"  Do  you  think,  then,  that  he  meant  to  do 


224  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

this  when  he  went  off  with  him,  or  was  it  only 
a  sudden  idea — a  mad  craze  ?  You  know, 
Musgrave,  there  were  times  when  he  was  almost 
violent." 

"Oh,  no,  sir,  it  wasn't  that.  He  was  as 
sane  as  you  or  I  when  he  did  it.  He  must 
have  had  some  idea  something  was  wrong, 
that  Mr.  Vincent  was  an  enemy  of  Mr.  Den- 
ham's.  Perhaps  he  heard  something  in  the 
hall,  for  I  saw  him  come  out  of  the  window 
looking  rather  queer — scared-like " 

"  What  ?  "  broke  in  Jack.  "  You  saw  him 
come  out  of  the  window  ?  "  There  was  horror 
in  his  eyes.  '  Then  he  must  have  heard  what 
Vincent  and  I  were  saying.  £ood  God,  doctor, 
this  is  all  my  fault."  Hurriedly,  in  halting, 
shaken  words,  he  explained  the  facts  to  the 
two  men.  "  I  never  knew  he  was  there  !  "  he 
ended,  with  a  groan.  "  Oh  !  I'll  never  forgive 
myself,  never.  What  a  curse  I  am  to  every- 
one !  The  sooner  they  come  and  pot  me  off, 
the  better." 

Quietly,  the  old  doctor  reasoned  with  him. 

"  You  can't  blame  yourself,  my  boy,"  he 
said.  "  You  could  not  in  honour  go  back  on 
your  word  to  Vincent,  and  you  did  not  know 
that  Peter  was  there  and  heard.  Of  course, 
it  explains  everything.  He  knew  he  had  done 
wrong  in  bringing  Vincent  here,  and  he  tried 
to  make  good,  poor  fellow.  He  knew  that  if 
Vincent  lived  to  'phone  to  his  friends  it  would 
probably  mean  your  death,  Jack.  He  de- 
liberately, therefore,  made  up  his  mind  as  to 


METHOD   IN   HIS   MADNESS       225 

what  he  should  do.  Call  it  murder  if  you  will, 
it  is  not  so  to  me,  and  I  doubt  if  the  Recording 
Angel  will  mark  it  down  against  him.  It 
will  be  called  insanity,  of  course — the  act  of  a 
madman,  which  I  suppose  it  was  after  all." 

"  He  was  as  sane  as  you,  sir,  when  he  did  it," 
said  Musgrave,  doggedly.  "If  it  were  not  so, 
would  he  have  pushed  me  deliberately  out  of 
.the  car  ?  " 

"  I  wonder,"  said  the  doctor.     "  I  wonder." 


CHAPTER  VIII 

TWO   WOMEN 

DR.  WATMAN  paced  slowly  along  the 
wide  stone  terrace  in  front  of  his 
house,  his  hands  clasped  behind  him, 
his  head  bent.  By  his  side  walked  a  power- 
fully built  man,  who  every  now  and  then 
glanced  at  him  anxiously. 

"  Sit  down,  sir,  won't  you  ?  '  he  said. 
"  You  will  tire  yourself,  and  God  knows  you 
have  been  through  enough  already  without 
that." 

"  No,  Musgrave,  I'm  better  on  my  feet,  I 
can't  keep  still,"  said  the  old  doctor.  "  I 
want  to  think " 

"  Don't  do  that,  sir,  thinking  does  no  good, 
but  talking  does.  I  know  a  good  deal  of  what 
has  happened,  sir,  but  I  don't  rightly  know 
it  all,  and  if  you  wouldn't  mind,  sir,  I  should 
be  grateful  if  you  would  tell  me  exactly  what 
has  been  going  on  these  last  two  months," 
said  the  man. 

He  knew  that  it  was  better  for  the  doctor 
to  talk  than  to  think,  and  he  wanted,  in  his 

rough  way  to  help  him. 

326 


TWO  WOMEN  227 

'  Tell  me  what  you  know,  Musgrave,"  said 
Dr.  Wat  man. 

"  I  know  that  Mr.  Jack  Denham  has  got 
mixed  up  in  a  lot  of  trouble,  and  had  his  life 
threatened,  and  that's  why  he  is  here  with  you, 
out  of  harm's  way.  I  know  that  the  lady, 
Mrs.  Allwood,  who  is  here  for  a  rest  cure, 
and  to  whom  he  is  now  engaged,  was  the  lady 
who  rang  up  her  brother  on  the  telephone  in 
London,  over  two  months  ago,  asking  him  to 
go  to  her  rescue  as  her  drunken  husband  was 
threatening  to  kill  her.  From  what  I  under- 
stand Exchange  rang  up  Mr.  Denham  instead, 
by  mistake,  and  he  went.  But  how  he  got 
mixed  up  with  that  gang  of  criminals  I  don't 
know." 

"  It  was  very  simple,"  said  the  doctor.  "  He 
thought  she  said  her  number  was  18,  Staveley 
Road,  and  it  was  80  ;  he  went  to  No.  18  and 
got  trapped  in  a  gambling  hell.  He  escaped 
with  his  life.  But  since  then  he  has  been 
threatened  by  them  with  death  and  three  times 
they  have  nearly  succeeded.  You  know  Mr. 
Denham,  Musgrave,  threats  only  make  him 
the  more  determined  ;  so  at  last  his  brother, 
Captain  Denham,  brought  him  here  out  of 
harm's  way." 

"  Well,  I  expect  the  police  will  get  on  to 
them  soon,"  said  Musgrave.  "  Inspector  Har- 
per of  the  Yard,  is  helping,  isn't  he  ?  ' 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  doctor.  "He's  a  good 
man.  All  they  want  now  is  to  spot  the  house 
where  Sullivan  and  his  gang  meet.  If  Mr. 


228  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

Denham  knew  the  place,  I  would  be  inclined 
to  let  him  go  and  help  them,  but  he  doesn't, 
and  that  means  danger." 

"  From  what  I  know  of  Mr.  Denham,  sir," 
said  the  other  quietly,  "  I  doubt  his  wanting 
to  help  the  police.  He  wants  to  get  on  to  the 
gang  himself,  and  get  some  of  his  own  back. 
It's  mad,  of  course,  but  I  can  quite  understand 
it  after  all  he's  gone  through." 

"  Well,  he'll  never  be  allowed  to  do  that  while 
I  can  prevent  it,"  said  the  doctor.  "  His 
brother,  before  he  went,  pointed  out  that  if 
this  gang  ever  found  out  his  present  where- 
abouts, they  would  resort  to  every  possible 
means  of  getting  hold  of  him.  They  might 
even,  he  said,  try  ringing  him  up  or  wiring 
in  Mr.  Denham's  name,  and  that  unless  I 
was  absolutely  certain  the  message  came  from 
him,  I  was  not  to  let  him  go.  So  you  see  how 
strongly  he  thinks  about  it.  However,  now 
that  he  has  met  the  lady  of  his  heart  and  they 
are  together  here,  I  don't  worry  so  much  about 
Mr.  Jack  Denham.  Nothing  short  of  force  will 
get  him  away  from  here." 

They  talked  on.  The  evening  was  drawing 
in.  Up  and  down  the  two  men  paced,  until 
the  gong  sent  the  doctor  up  to  his  room  to 
change  for  dinner.  He  reflected  that  the  meal 
would  be  a  gloomy  one.  There  was  no  Peter 
Smithson  there  to  liven  them  up  with  his  some- 
times nonsensical,  sometimes  most  wise  re- 
marks. Only  Jack  Denham  and  Elise  Allwood, 
happy  together  in  their  love,  but  a  happiness 


TWO  WOMEN  229 

spoilt  for  them  by  the  tragedy  that  had  hap- 
pened. 

Before  the  gong  sounded  for  the  evening 
meal,  the  three  strolled  on  to  the  terrace.  Away 
in  the  woods,  owls  hooted  eerily;  across  the 
lawn  was  the  sparkle  and  glimmer  of  the 
lake. 

"  It's  getting  chilly,"  said  the  old  doctor. 
"  Elise,  my  dear,  you  should  go  in." 

"  No,"  she  said,  "  not  yet.  Let  us  walk  a 
bit  longer.  Neither  Jack  nor  I  can  sit  still, 
you  know." 

It  was  then  that  Barton,  one  of  the  atten- 
dants, hurried  out  on  to  the  terrace. 

"  Is  Mr.  Denham  there,  sir  ?  "  he  asked. 
'  Yes,"  said  Jack.     "  What  is  it  ?  ' 

"  There's  a  trunk  call  for  you,  sir — London — 
a  lady  wants  to  speak  to  you  urgently.  Will 
you  come  ?  ' 

"  A  lady  ?  '  said  Jack.  "  Who  on  earth 
can  it  be  ?  No  one  knows  I  am  here."  He 
hurried  inside,  the  other  two  following  directly 
behind. 

Jack  took  up  the  receiver.  '  Yes,"  he  said. 
"  Who  is  it — speak  slower — yes — good  God  ! 
You  !  How  did  you  know  I  was  here  ?  What 
Edward  !  They've  got  him — he's  what  ? — 
Being  starved  to  death  !  No — no  !  I  don't 
believe  it — this  is  a  plant  to  get  me — no — I 

see .     Yes,  I  believe  you — I'll  come  now, 

of  course — but  I  must  go  for  the  police — you 
know  that.  Oh,  very  well — for  your  sake,  I 
promise — I'll  come  alone,  and  I'll  wait  at  the 


230  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

rooms  in  Lennox  Street  until  you  ring  up  and 
say  you  are  by  yourself.  Thank  you,  kid. 
Tell  him  I'm  coming — I  won't  fail — yes,  I 
know  the  house — Brandscomes.  God  bless  you 
for  what  you  are  doing." 

The  receiver  went  down,  and  Jack,  white- 
faced,  turned  to  the  others. 

"It's     Edward "      he     said     hoarsely. 

"  They've  got  him  and  are  starving  him  into 
telling  them  where  I  am.  Will  you  let  me  have 
your  car,  Elise  ?  ' 

"  Wait,  Denham,"  said  the  doctor  quietly. 
"  What  is  all  this  ?  Tell  me  quietly,  who  rang 
you  up  ?  ' 

"  The  girl  Molly,  one  of  the  gang,"  he  said. 
"  The  girl  who  twice  saved  my  life — she  says 
they  have  got  Edward — down  in  a  cellar  and 
are  starving  him.  I  must  go  at  once,  doctor." 

"  Wait "  he  said  again.     "  How  comes 

it  that  she  was  able  to  ring  you  up  ?  She  says 
your  brother  is  to  be  starved  into  telling  them 
where  you  are.  How  is  that — if  she  already 
knows  ?  ' 

"  She  says  she  got  a  chance  to  get  to  him 
when  they  were  out  of  the  house,  and  he  gave 
her  my  address " 

"  Edward  gave  it,"  repeated  the  doctor. 

"  Yes "   said   Jack,   desperately.     "  She 

won't  tell  them,  she  wants  me  to  go  and  help 
to  get  him  away,  as  she  can't  move  the  trap- 
door herself,  and  if  he  isn't  moved  soon,  he  will, 
through  very  pain  and  weakness,  give  in  and 
tell  them  what  they  want  to  know,  and  she 


TWO  WOMEN  231 

doesn't  want  me  hurt.  Can't  you  see,  doctor? 
It's  all  quite  plain  to  me." 

"  And  it  is  equally  plain  to  me,"  was  the 
quiet  reply. 

"  Who  is  this  girl  ?  "  demanded  Elise.  "  Can 
she  be  relied  on  ?  Can  any  of  them  ?  Isn't 
she  fooling  you,  Jack  ?  " 

"No,"  he  said.  "  She  wouldn't  lie  to  me — 
besides,  the  proof  of  it  is  that  she  knows  where 
I  am.  No  one  but  Eddy  would  tell  her — or 
could.  Can't  you  see  that  ?  " 

"  Stop  a  minute,"  said  the  old  man.  "  Let 
us  get  this  right.  She  knows  where  you  are. 
Well,  the  last  person  in  the  world  to  tell  her  is 
Edward,  your  brother.  No — wait  until  I  have 
done.  Now — think  a  bit  !  Yesterday  comes 
Robert  Vincent  in  this  neighbourhood.  Why  ? 
He  says  to  stay  with  friends.  Obviously  that 
was  a  lie,  and  is  proved  so  now.  They  must 
have  traced  you  here,  and  he  came  down 
to  see  if  it  were  true.  Possibly  he  knew  his 
one-time  friend,  Peter  Smithson,  was  shut  up 
here,  and  failing  to  meet  him  outside  he  would 
boldly  call,  and  find  out.  He  was  spared  that 
by  meeting  him.  He  was  expected  back — 
something  prevents — his  friends  suspect  that 
he  may  be  detained  here.  So,  in  order  to  get 
you,  they  try  ringing  up  this  house,  where 
they  suspect  you  are,  and  tell  you  this  insane 
yarn  about  your  brother.  My  dear  fellow, 
it  is  as  clear  as  daylight.  A  very  clever  scheme, 
I  grant  you,  but  in  this  instance  it  fails." 

"  Fails  !     How  ?  "  demanded  Jack. 


232  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  It  fails  simply  because  they  will  not  gel 
you  that  way,"  said  the  old  man,  quietly. 

'  What  ?  "  exclaimed  the  young  man  angrily. 
"  Do  you  mean  that  you  don't  believe  this 
girl  is  telling  me  the  truth,  and  that  you  will 
prevent  my  going  ?  My  God,  man,  Edward 
is  calling  for  me.  I  must  go — I  am  bound  to 
go  !  Elise,  for  God's  sake  let  me  have  your 
car — I've  got  to  go — to-night — now — there's 
not  a  moment  to  be  lost.  How  long  do  I  know 
he  has  been  there  ?  And  then  when  I  get  to 
my  rooms,  I  have  to  wait  until  she  rings  me 
up  to  say  the  coast  is  clear.  Elise,  for  God's 
sake,  speak  !  " 

"Oh,    Jack-  she   cried— "  What   am 

I  to  say  ?  '  She  clasped  her  hands  in  agony. 
"  I  know  you  think  the  girl  is  telling  the  truth, 
but  I  can't  believe  it.  Why  should  she  ?  " 

"  Why  ?  "  he  cried.  "  Why  ?  I'll  tell  you 
why."  He  was  desperate  and  did  not  weigh 
his  words.  "  I  believe  she  likes  me,  cares  for 
me — that's  why  she  helped  me  before.  That's 
why  she  doesn't  want  Eddy  to  give  in  and  tell 
them  where  I  am.  That's  why  !  She  is  noth- 
ing to  me,  you  know  that — but — well,  surely 
you,  a  woman,  can  understand." 

For  a  moment  Elise  Allwood  stood  silent, 
a  deep,  angry  flush  on  her  face.  This  girl — 
this  criminal,  this  low,  vulgar  harlot,  to  dare 
to  care  for  her  Jack  in  that  way  !  Indigna- 
tion kept  her  silent. 

"  Elise  !  "  he  cried.  "  For  God's  sake  say 
something — tell  them  to  get  your  car — I  must 


TWO  WOMEN  233 

have  it — I  must  !  By  God  !  "  he  cried  angrily 
turning  to  the  silent  doctor.  "  If  you  try  to 
stop  me  you'll  be  sorry  for  it.  Tell  them  to 
get  the  car  round,  do  you  hear  ?  ' 

For  answer  the  old  man  put  his  hand  behind 
him  and  pressed  the  electric  bell  twice. 

"  Yes/'  he  said.  "  Wait  a  minute,  my  boy. 
Don't  get  into  this  excited  state.  Try  and 
calm  yourself,  and  get  the  hang  of  the  thing. 
Surely  you  can  see  that  you  are  being  duped. 
Surely  you  can  see  that  this  is  a  trap  into  which 
you  are  going  to  walk  blindly.  Ah  !  There 
you  are,  Musgrave — and  you,  Barton.  Just 
stand  by  those  two  doors,  I  don't  want  anyone 
to  leave  here  just  for  the  moment ' 

The  two  men  took  up  their  places,  and  stood 
motionless.  Jack,  white  with  anger  now,  glared 
at  the  doctor. 

Elise  caught  his  arm.  "  Jack,  Jack,"  she 
said,  "  don't  do  anything  foolish.  Wait,  dear 
old  boy,  let  us  think  and  talk  a  bit  before  we 
decide  to  do  anything." 

"  Talk  !  "  he  echoed.  "  We  have  done  enough 
of  that ;  while  we  stand  talking  here  Eddy  is 
being  tortured  over  there.  I  have  got  to  go 

to  him.     Look  here "  he  turned  desperately 

to  the  doctor,  "  you  doubt  that  girl,  and  I 
acknowledge  that  it  is  quite  natural,  for  you 
don't  know  her,  and  I  do.  But  to  satisfy 
me  and  yourself,  for  God's  sake  ring  up  Mrs. 
Jenkins,  our  servant  at  the  rooms  in  Lennox 
Street.  If  Eddy  is  not  there  you  will  know 
what  she  says  is  true." 


234  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  That  is  an  excellent  idea,"  said  Doctor 
Watman.  He  turned  to  the  telephone.  "  It 
will  be  some  time  before  we  get  on,  I 
fear."  he  said.  "  However,  I  am  prepared 
to  wait  all  night  if  it  will  bring  you  ease 
of  mind,  my  dear  boy.  The  only  thing  I 
am  not  prepared  to  do,  until  I  am  satisfied, 
is  to  let  you  go  on  this  worse  than  wild  goose 
chase." 

Jack  paced  up  and  down  the  hall  in  gloomy 
silence.  Elise  sat  still  thinking  hard. 
Gradually  a  feeling  was  beginning  to  dawn  on 
her  that  after  all,  this  girl,  who  loved  her  Jack 
might  be  speaking  the  truth.  At  least  she 
would  not  of  her  own  act  get  him  into  danger. 
Therefore,  unless  it  was  to  save  his  brother, 
and  incidentally  himself,  for  she  believed  it 
possible  for  Edward  to  give  way  under  torture, 
why  should  she  call  for  him  to  come  ?  It 
was  pretty  evident  that  unless  the  doctor  had 
distinct  proof  of  Jack's  immunity  from  harm 
he  would  not  let  him  go,  and  a  plan  began  to 
form  in  her  mind. 

At  last  the  tension  was  broken  by  the  ringing 
of  the  bell. 

The  doctor  spoke.  "  Yes,  is  that  Mrs.  Jen- 
kins ?  Doctor  Watman  speaking.  Is  Mr.  Ed- 
ward Denham  at  home  ?  Oh,  staying  with 
friends.  A  slight  accident,  you  say.  Did  he 
say  who  he  was  staying  with  ?  Ah,  that's  a 
pity.  You  are  not  anxious  on  his  account  ? 
That's  all  right  then.  He  often  stays  a  night 
with  friends,  does  he  ?  Good  !  Yes,  thanks 


TWO  WOMEN  235 

—he  is  quite  well.  No,  nothing  more,  thanks. 
Good-bye." 

"So said  Jack  eagerly.  "He's  not 

there — well — are  you  satisfied  now,  doctor  ?  ''' 

"  I  am  more  than  satisfied  that  this  is  a  most 
deliberate  and  well  thought  out  plan,"  was 
the  reply.  "  Not  only  do  they  try  and  make 
you  believe  that  cock  and  bull  story,  but  they 
give  verisimilitude  to  it,  knowing  that  you 
would  naturally  ring  up  Jenkins,  by  causing 
your  brother  to  meet  with  a  slight  accident, 
possibly  a  taxi  run  into  by  another,  and  he 
goes  to  a  friend's  house  for  the  night.  Your 
brother  has  hosts  of  friends  in  London.  He 
would  ask  to  be  taken  to  the  nearest,  and 
Jenkins  would  be  informed." 

"  You  are  mad,  doctor,"  cried  Jack.  "  If 
Eddy  had  gone  to  a  friend's  house,  he  would 
have  told  Jenkins  who  it  was.  Man,  man  ! 
Can't  you  see  ?  Won't  you  see  ?  Are  you 
blind  to  what  is  so  obvious  to  me  ?  No — 
I  suppose  you  can't  see — but  by  God — you 
won't  stop  me  from  going  to  him.  I'll  go  if 
I  have  to  fight  my  way  out,"  and  with  that  he 
had  gone  to  the  door.  "  Stand  aside,  and  let 
me  pass,"  he  said  to  Musgrave  who  barred 
his  way.  "  You  have  no  right  to  stop  me, 
and  I'm  going — d'you  hear  ?  Stand  out  of 
my  way  or — 

He  raised  a  threatening  arm,  and  the  next 
instant  was  lying  his  length  on  the  floor,  with 
Musgrave  kneeling  beside  him,  one  knee  on 
his  chest. 


236  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"Oh,  don't  let  them  hurt  him,"  cried  Elise, 
clinging  to  the  old  man. 

"  All  right,  my  dear,"  he  said,  quietly. 
'  They  know  better  than  that,  have  no  fear. 
Besides,  I  expect  your  young  man  realises 
now  that  this  sort  of  thing  won't  do." 

"  Come,  sir,"  said  Musgrave.  "  Don't 
struggle,  or  I'm  afraid  I  shall  hurt  you.  Take 
it  quietly,  sir." 

There  was  a  moment's  pause. 

"All  right,"  said  Jack.  "Let  go— I  see 
it's  no  use."  He  rose  to  his  feet.  "  You 
will  regret  this  one  day,  doctor,"  he  said  through 
set  teeth. 

"  I  regret  it  now,  bitterly,"  said  the  old  man. 
"  But  there  was  no  other  course.  Yes,  Mus- 
grave, take  Mr.  Denham  upstairs.  I'll  come 
and  see  him  presently,  and  after  he  has  had  his 
dinner  I  will  bring  something  to  make  him 
sleep." 

Elise  watched  them  go.  Her  heart  bled  for 
her  boy,  for  she  knew  that  he  must  be  right, 
yet  she  was  powerless  to  help,  and  she  knew, 
also,  that  nothing  she  could  say  would  alter 
the  doctor's  determination.  He  too,  felt  that 
he  was  right.  Well,  between  them,  these  men 
had  made  a  desperate  mess  of  things.  It  was 
left  to  her,  a  woman,  to  try  and  put  them 
right. 

The  meal  was  a  gloomy  one,  and  they  were 
both  thankful  when  it  was  over. 

"I'm  going  up  to  my  room,"  she  said, 
presently.  "  It  has  all  upset  me  horribly 


TWO  WOMEN  237 

but  I  don't  see  what  else  you  could  have  done, 
and  I  don't  see  Jack  doing  other  than  he  did. 
May  I  see  him  to  say  '  good-night  ?  ' 

"  Of  course,  my  dear,  and  try  and  make  him 
see  reason.  I  hate  the  necessity  for  my  action, 
but  he  left  me  nothing  else  to  do.  Good- 
night, my  dear." 

She  left  him  and  hurried  upstairs.  Already 
that  plan,  so  vaguely  thought  of  had  matured. 

The  door  was  opened  at  her  knock. 

"  I  want  to  see  Mr.  Denham,"  she  said  to 
Barton. 

'  Yes,  madam,  he  is  in  his  sitting-room." 

She  hurried  in.  Jack  was  pacing  up  and 
down  liked  a  caged  beast.  He  glared  at 
her  for  a  moment  and  then  caught  her  in  his 
arms. 

"  Thank  you  for  coming,  dear,"  he  said. 
"I'm  in  hell.  I  know  I'm  right,  and  if  some- 
thing isn't  done,  I  shall  go  mad.  That  brute 
Musgrave  was  too  many  for  me.  My  God  ! 
Can  nothing  be  done  ?  ' 

"  Yes,  dear,"  she  said.  "I'm  going  myself 
to-morrow." 

"  You  are  going  where  ?  '  he  demanded, 
incredulous,  amazed. 

"  I  am  going  up  in  the  car  to-morrow  to 
take  your  place,"  she  repeated.  '  You  must 
write  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Jenkins,  telling  her  that 
I  may  stay  at  your  rooms,  and  you  must 
tell  me  how  to  find  this  house  at  Golder's 
Green.  For  I'm  going  there,  and  nothing 
shall  stop  me.  The  girl  wants  help,  and  I 


238  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

am  strong — between  us,  dear  old  boy,  the 
two  women  who  love  Jack  Denham,  shall 
rescue  his  brother.  No — don't  look  like  that, 
or  argue,  I  have  made  up  my  mind,  and  I 
am  going." 

"  I  won't  let  you,"  he  cried.  "  Think  of 
the  risk.  Oh,  my  God !  Elise,  you  must 
not  dream  of  it.  It  is  wonderful  and  brave  of 
you,  but  I  won't  let  you  do  it." 

"  Risk !  There  is  no  risk !  "  she  said. 
"  You  believe  that  the  girl  is  telling  the  truth, 
don't  you  ?  ' 

"  Of  course,  I  know  it  !  "  he  said.  "  But 
you  can't  go  to  that  place  alone — I  won't  let 
you  !  " 

"  And  how  are  you  going  to  prevent  me  ? 
You  poor  boy,  you  can't  even  help  yourself. 
Doctor  Watman  will  keep  you  here  until  you, 
as  he  thinks,  come  to  your  senses.  You  can't 
stop  me,  and  if  you  tell  him,  it  will  make  no 
difference.  I  am  my  own  mistress.  I  shall 
go  for  a  drive  in  my  car  to-morrow,  no  one 
will  prevent  me,  and  I  shall  simply  start  right 
off  to  London.  Now,  sit  down  and  write  that 
letter  to  Mrs.  Jenkins,  and  then  describe  this 
house  to  me." 

Jack  argued,  pleaded .  At  last  seeing 

the  futility  of  all  arguments,  all  entreaties, 
and  desperately  anxious  for  his  brother  he 
gave  in,  and  did  her  bidding. 

"  You  are  the  most  wonderful  woman  in 
all  the  world,"  he  said,  hoarsely,  as  he  folded 
her  in  his  arms. 


TWO  WOMEN  239 

"I'm  only  an  ordinary,  sensible  human 
being,"  she  said.  "  This  is  the  only  thing  to 
do,  and  therefore  I  am  going  to  do  it.  I'll 
'phone  as  soon  as  I  have  got  your  brother  safe. 
You  see,  I  have  no  idea  of  failing.  Now,  dear, 
promise  to  be  quiet  and  give  no  more  trouble. 
It  does  no  good  you  know." 

"  I  promise,"  he  said.  "  Anything  you  tell 
me,  darling,  there  is  nothing  that  I  would  not 
do  for  you." 

'  That's  brave  of  you,"  said  she,  tenderly. 
"  Far  braver  than  what  I  am  doing.  For  I 
risk  nothing.  Good-bye,  dear." 

She  was  gone. 

It  was  a  very  quiet  and  altogether  docile 
Jack  Denham  whom  the  doctor  found  when  he 
came  up  a  short  time  afterwards,  and  he  took 
the  draught  he  gave  him  and  drank  it  without  a 
protest. 

"  You'll  think  differently  about  it  all,  after 
a  good  night's  rest,  my  boy,"  he  said  kindly. 
"  It's  wonderful,"  he  thought  as  he  left  the 
room,  "  what  power  a  good  woman  has  over  a 
man." 


Elise  Allwood,  at  breakfast,  calmly  announced 
her  intention  of  motoring  up  to  London. 

"  I  am  not  satisfied,"  she  said,  in  answer  to 
the  doctor's  mild  protest.  "  And  so  I'm  going 
to  find  out  for  myself." 

"  But  what  can  you  possibly  do  ?  '  he 
inquired,  in  blank  astonishment. 


240       THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  I  can  do  what  any  ordinary  sensible  woman 
can  do,  I  suppose.  Make  inquiries,  and  failing 
any  satisfactory  replies,  I  can  call  in  Inspector 
Harper." 

"  But,  my  dear,  it  is  not  a  woman's  job/' 
he  protested. 

"  You  are  old-fashioned,  doctor,'  she  retorted. 
"  Any  job  is  a  woman's  job  nowadays.  The 
War  altered  all  that  for  us.  Thank  God  I 
am  strong  and  well  again,  and  I'll  do  what  I 
can  to  help  Jack.  Of  course,  I  quite  see  your 
point  of  view,  and  appreciate  it ;  you  could  not, 
after  what  his  brother  said,  do  anything  else ; 
but  there  is  also  the  chance  that  Jack  may  be 
right,  and  as  another  person's  life  depends  on 
it,  I  feel  it  my  duty  at  least  to  do  what  I  can  to 
find  out.  Jack  can't  go,  but  I  can.  So  that's 
all  there  is  about  it.  I'll  ring  you  up  as  soon  as 
I  know  one  way  or  the  other." 

She  waved  protests  and  arguments  aside. 
To  a  suggestion  that  Musgrave  should  accom- 
pany her,  she  laughed.  "  I  want  no  blundering 
men  on  this  job,"  she  said.  "It's  entirely  a 
woman's  affair.  Jack  knows  all  about  it,  and 
carried  on  about  the  risk  in  the  same  ridiculous 
way  that  you  are  doing.  There's  no  risk  at 
all,  I  assure  you.  I'm  going — so  that's  all 
there  is  about  it." 

And  of  course,  she  went. 

She  reached  Lennox  Street  late  that  night, 
and  presented  Jack's  letter  to  the  surprised 
Mrs.  Jenkins. 

'  Very  good,  ma'am,"  she  said,   when  she 


TWO  WOMEN  241 

had  read  it.  "I'll  have  dinner  brought  in 
directly."  Herbert  told  her  where  the  garage 
was,  and  when  she  had  taken  the  car  round, 
and  intimated  that  it  might  be  wanted  at 
any  moment,  she  returned  to  the  rooms  in 
Lennox  Street. 

"  I  can't  understand  about  Captain  Denham, 
ma'am,"  said  young  Jenkins,  as  he  arranged 
the  things  on  the  dining-table.  "  He  gave  no 
address,  and  we  have  heard  nothing  since. 
I  am  beginning  to  be  rather  afraid  that  some- 
thing serious  has  happened." 

'  That's  why  I  am  here,"  she  said.  "  Have 
there  been  any  calls  on  the  telephone,  Jenkins  ?  " 

"Not  for  the  last  two  days,  ma'am,"  he 
replied. 

So  the  girl  was  not  ready  for  her  yet.  If 
it  was  true,  then  poor  Edward  Denham  had  been 
in  those  brutes'  hands  for  two  days  and  nights. 
How  long,  she  wondered,  could  one  exist 
without  food  and  drink  ?  Her  heart  misgave 
her.  Ought  she  not  to  fling  honour  to  the  winds 
and  call  in  the  police  ?  Jack  had  promised 
the  girl  to  go  alone,  and  therefore  she  was  in 
honour  bound  to  do  the  same,  as  she  went  in 
his  place.  But,  did  not  the  circumstances  give 
her  the  right  to  fling  all  that  aside  and  go 
before  it  was  too  late,  with  sufficient  force  to 

break  in  and ?     No,  it  did  not.     It  was 

not  playing  the  game.  If  the  girl  spoke  the 
truth,  she  was  risking  a  good  deal  herself  to 
save  Edward  Denham.  It  was  not  for  Elise 

to  punish  her  for  what  she  did,  and  that  is 

Q 


242  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

what  it  meant  if  she  brought  in  the  police. 
Jack  would  not  have  done  so,  therefore  neither 
could  she.  She  ate  her  meal,  and  afterwards 
paced  the  room  in  ceaseless  anxiety.  When 
twelve  o'clock  struck  and  still  there  was  no 
telephone  call  she  went  to  bed.  All  the  follow- 
ing morning,  and  all  the  afternoon  she  waited, 
her  heart  sinking  as  each  hour  dragged  by. 
How  long  could  Edward  hold  out  ?  Nearly 
three  days  now.  What  state  would  he  be  in 
when  she  found  him  ?  Nine  o'clock — half- 
past.  At  last  !  A  violent  ring  close  by  her 
brought  her  with  a  cry  to  the  'phone — she 
deepened  her  voice  as  she  spoke. 

'  Yes— who  is  it  ?  ' 

"  Is  that  you,  boy  ?  '  came  a  woman's 
voice. 

'  Yes,  Jack  Denham  speaking,"  said  she. 

"  Come  at  once — I  am  alone  for  the  next 
two  hours.  Bring  a  flask  with  brandy,  I  have 
none  and  dare  not  leave.  Hurry,  boy." 

"I'm  off  now,"  said  Elise.  She  rang  for 
Jenkins.  "  Get  Captain  Denham's  room  ready," 
she  said  hurriedly.  "  I  have  just  heard  about 
him,  and  shall  be  bringing  him  here — he  is  ill. 
See  to  everything,  Jenkins,  I  must  go." 

She  left  the  bewildered  manservant  and 
hurried  to  the  car.  Soon  she  was  navigating 
the  crowded  streets,  coolly  and  calmly  steering 
her  way  through.  If  ever  coolness  and  courage 
were  to  stand  her  in  good  stead,  now  was  the 
occasion.  But  she  never  lost  her  nerves,  though 
they  were  strung  to  breaking  point. 


TWO  WOMEN  243 

Finchley  Road  had  to  be  gained  and  then 
the  broad  highway  to  Golder's  Green.  In  her 
pocket  was  a  flask  of  brandy.  So,  Edward 
must  be  weak,  poor  fellow.  Well,  thank  God, 
she  was  unusually  strong  for  a  woman,  and  the 
Cornish  air  had  braced  her  into  health  and 
strength  again.  Finchley  Road  at  last — and  now 
the  houses  were  growing  fewer.  She  glanced 
at  her  watch  as  she  passed  a  street  lamp. 
Ten  o'clock.  An  hour  and  a  half  to  do  it  in — 
surely  that  would  be  time  enough  ?  Unless  these 
people  returned  before  their  time.  But  she 
would  not  consider  that  for  a  moment.  The 
girl  had  said  she  would  be  two  hours  alone. 
That  was  enough  for  her  to  think  about.  At 
last  the  curiously  coloured  gates  were  reached, 
and  they  were  open.  She  swept  round  the  curve, 
drew  up  at  the  entrance  door  of  a  modern  villa, 
and  sprang  out.  As  she  reached  the  top 
step  the  door  was  opened  noiselessly.  It  was 
dark  outside,  for  there  were  clouds  over  the 
moon. 

"  Is  it  you,  boy  ?  "  came  a  voice. 

And  without  answering  she  squeezed  past 
the  opening.  '  Yes,"  she  said.  "  It's  me." 

The  passage  was  in  darkness. 

'  Who  are  you  ?  "  came  a  voice,  close  by 
her. 

"  Is  there  a  light  anywhere  ?  "  said  Elise. 
"  I  am  Jack  Denham's  friend.  He  can't  come 
himself,  so  I  am  here  instead.  Take  me  to  the 
light  so  that  you  can  see." 

"  A  woman  !  "  said  the  voice,  incredulously. 


244  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  Yes,  a  woman — but  strong  and  able  to 
help." 

She  felt  a  hand  clutch  her  wrist,  and  then 
found  herself  being  hurried  along  a  narrow 
passage.  A  door  was  opened,  and  they  were  in 
a  lighted  room.  She  looked  at  the  girl  before 
her — dark — pretty,  but  pale  as  death  and  with 
wide,  staring  eyes. 

"  How  is  it  you  have  come,  and  not — him  ?  ' 
she  demanded. 

"  He  can't  come,"  replied  Elise,  quietly. 
"  He  is  detained  there  by  Dr.  Watman,  who  won't 
let  him  go,  for  he  believes  your  call  was  a 
hoax 

"  And  you — didn't  you  believe  that  too  ?  ' 
asked  the  other,  with  a  short  laugh. 

'  Why,  no,  or  I  wouldn't  be  here  now." 

"  I  suppose  the  police  are  with  you  ?  "  said 
Molly  in  a  hard  voice. 

"  Of  course  not — Jack  promised  to  go  alone, 
so  of  course  I  had  to  do  the  same." 

"  Is  this  true  ?  '  she  demanded.  "  You 
came  here  alone  ?  Here  ?  " 

"  Of  course,"  said  Elise,  simply.  "  Why 
not  ?  I  knew  you  would  not  hurt  me,  and  you 
were  by  yourself." 

"  I  might  not  have  been — and  it  might  after 
all  have  been  a — hoax — as  you  call  it,"  said  the 
girl  dryly. 

"  I  know — but  I  had  to  risk  that,"  was  the 
reply. 

'  You  are  brave,"  said  Molly,  in  a  different 
tone,  and  now  there  was  admiration  in  her 


TWO  WOMEN  245 

eyes.  "  And  you  are  beautiful.  I  suppose 
you  have  come  for  Jack's  sake,  you  love  him  ? 
That's  it  isn't  it  ?  '% 

'  Yes,"  said  Elise,  simply.  "  I  love  him, 
so  I'm  here,  you  see  it's  all  quite  simple,  and  you 
who  love  him  too,  will  know  how  little  danger 
and  risk  counts,  when  you  want  to  help  the  man 
you  love." 

'  What  do  you  know  about  me  ?  "  demanded 
the  other,  flushing  angrily. 

"  Only  what  Jack  has  told  me.  How  you 
saved  him  twice,  and  now  this — what  you  are 
doing  for  him.  Do  you  think  it  was  so  difficult 
to  guess  ?  ' 

"  I  suppose  not — and  I  suppose  you  hate  me 
for  it,  and  despise  me — you  know  wrhat  I  am, 
what  my  life  is.  You  and  your  Jack  are  not 
of  my  world.  Aren't  you  afraid  to  come 
here  ?  " 

"  Afraid  ?  Why  ?  '  said  Elise.  "  And 
why  should  I  hate  and  despise  you  ?  Far 
from  it,  I  admire  you  tremendously.  I  think 
you  are  wonderful.  You  have  played  the  game 
all  through  with  Jack — you  are  playing  it  now, 
risking  perhaps  your  life.  Hate  you,  despise 
you  !  Oh,  no,  no  !  A  thousand  times  no  !  " 

'  You  say  this — you  ?  '  cried  the  other, 
staring  at  her — "  And  yet  you  know  what  I 
am,  and  that  I  love  your  Jack — you  say  this 
to  me  ?  ' 

'  Why,  yes — it's  because  I  am  so  sorry — 
sorry  that  Jack  can  never  be  anything  to  you. 
For  vou  see,  I  know  what  it  is  to  love  him, 


246  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

and  when  love  is  a  joy  to  me  who  possess  him, 
it  can  only  be  a  tragedy  for  the  woman  who 
loses  him.  Oh,  Molly,  don't  cry,  dear,  you 
must  keep  strong  if  we  are  to  help  this  poor 
man.  There,  my  dear,  kiss  me."  She  threw 
her  arms  round  the  girl's  shaking  shoulders 
and  drew  her  close. 

At  last  the  sobs  ceased,  and  Molly  drew 
herself  out  of  the  other's  embrace,  and  looked 
up  into  her  face.  "  You  are  a  good  woman," 
she  said.  "  Just  the  right  woman  for  Jack. 
And  you  are  the  first  woman  of  your  sort  who 

has   ever   thought   me   fit     to — kiss !      I 

won't  forget  that.  It  has  done  me  good, 
I  feel  somehow  different  to  what  I  have  ever 
done  before.  Even  Jack  is  not  quite  good 
enough  for  you.  Come,  let's  get  to  work," 
she  went  on,  suddenly  stooping  and  raising 
the  carpet.  '  That  poor  man  is  sick  down 
there.  I  haven't  been  able  to  get  near  him. 
Have  you  brandy,  you'll  want  it." 

Elise  showed  her  flask. 

"  Now,  help  me,"  went  on  Molly.  "It's  this 
trap-door  I  can't  raise.  I'm  not  strong,  you 
see." 

"  I  am,"  said  Elise. 

She  knelt  down  and  exerted  all  her  strength. 
At  first  she  thought  that  even  she  must  fail, 
but  at  last  it  moved,  and  she  got  one  hand 
under,  then  both — then  with  the  help  of 
the  other,  they  turned  it  crashing  on  to  the 
floor. 

"It's  all  right,"  said  Molly.     "There's  no 


TWO  WOMEN  247 

one  here.  Do  you  see  those  steps  ?  Well, 
take  this  candle,  and  go  down  carefully.  You'll 
have  to  help  him,  I  think  he's  too  ill  and  weak 
to  walk  alone — but  make  him  do  his  best. 
I'll  wait  here  and  help  him  as  he  comes  up. 
Hurry,  they  said  they  would  be  two  hours, 
but  I'm  never  quite  sure  of  them." 

Elise  took  the  candle,  and  scrambled  down 
the  ladder.  She  was  horribly  afraid  of  what 
she  would  find  there.  When  her  feet  reached 
the  ground  she  felt  almost  sick  with  anxiety, 
for  there  had  been  no  sound,  not  even  a  groan. 
Was  Edward  dead  ?  Then  she  turned  and 
held  up  the  candle.  A  dark  figure  lay  on  the 
floor  close  up  against  the  wall,  and  the  candle 
gleam  lit  up  the  whiteness  of  the  face.  It 
was  Edward  Denham.  She  had  only  seen 
him  once,  the  day  after  he  had  brought  his 
brother  down  to  the  house  in  Cornwall — 
and  how  changed  now  ?  He  was  staring  at 
her. 

"  Is  that  Molly  ?  "  came  a  cracked  voice. 

She  hurried  to  his  side,  and  knelt  down. 
"  No,  it's  Elise  Allwood — and  I've  come  to  help 
you." 

"  Water  !  "  he  gasped.  "  Water,  that's  all 
I  want." 

She  put  her  arms  under  his  shoulders  and 
raised  him  up,  then  she  put  the  flask  to  his 
lips.  "  It's  only  weak,"  she  said.  "  But  it 
will  do  you  more  good  than  plain  water.  Now, 
can  you  walk,  do  you  think  ?  Don't  ask 
questions,  I'll  explain  everything  afterwards. 


248  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

What  we  have  to  do  now  is  to  get  out  of  this 
place." 

"  Yes,  I  can  walk,"  he  said. 

And  with  her  assistance  he  got  to  his  feet. 
She  put  an  arm  round  him,  and  somehow 
they  reached  the  ladder. 

"  You  have  got  to  get  up  there,"  said  Elise. 
"  You  must  forget  how  ill  you  feel,  Mr.  Den- 
ham,  forget  everything  but  that  we  have  to 
get  away  from  here." 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  "  I'll  do  my  best." 

He  caught  at  the  ladder  rung  and  she  helped 
him.  It  was  slow  work,  for  he  was  giddy 
and  lost  his  footing,  but  at  last  Molly  had 
caught  hold  of  him  and  presently  he  was  sitting 
on  the  floor  of  the  little  room  drinking  thirstily 
of  the  water  she  gave  him. 

"  Not  too  much,"  said  Elise.  "  I  must  get 
him  to  the  car,  Molly." 

'  Yes,"  said  the  girl.  "  And  then  come  back 
and  fix  me  up.  They  have  got  to  find  me 
bound  and  gagged,  or  I  shan't  be  able  to  account 
for  his  going — see  ?  ' 

"  I  see,"  said  Elise.  "  And  of  course  you 
are  right." 

She  got  Edward  Denham  into  the  car. 

"  Don't  leave  me,"  he  said,  weakly.  "  That 
place,  the  dark  and  the  cold  has  made  a  coward 
of  me." 

"  You're  all  right,"  she  said,  gently.  "  And 
not  a  bit  of  a  coward,  poor  dear.  Just  sit 
there,  I  shan't  be  long,  I  promise  you."  She 
ran  back  to  the  room. 


TWO  WOMEN  249 

"  Take  this  curtain  cord,"  said  Molly.  "  It 
will  look  more  natural,  and  tie  my  handker- 
chief round  my  mouth."  She  sat  down  on 
the  sofa.  "  Tie  it  tight,"  she  said,  "  so  that 
I  can't  get  out  of  it,  or  they'll  smell  a  rat — 
they're  damned  cute  all  of  'em." 

Elise  did  as  she  bade  her.  "I'm  afraid  it 
hurts,  Molly,"  she  said,  frowning. 

"  I  can't  help  it  if  it  does — hurry — do  ! 
Now,  my  ankles,  with  the  other  end." 

Then  she  took  the  handkerchief,  but  first 
stooped  down  and  kissed  her.  "  God  bless 
you,  Molly,"  she  said.  Then  she  tied  the 
handkerchief  over  her  mouth.  "  Hadn't  I 
better  turn  out  the  light  ?  I  see  you've  left 
the  trap-door  open  ?  Nod,  if  yes — and  shake, 
if  you  mean  no." 

Molly  nodded  her  head.  Then  the  room 
was  in  darkness,  and  Elise  Allwood  went  out. 
In  the  car  she  gave  him  brandy  again. 

"Don't  try  to  talk,"  she  said.  "Well 
get  home  first." 

Young  Jenkins  met  her  at  the  door.  At 
the  sight  of  his  master's  white,  worn  face, 
he  uttered  a  gasp  of  horror. 

"  Help  him  in,  Jenkins.  I'll  tell  you 
all  about  it  later.  Has  anyone  rung  me 
up?' 

"  Mr.  Jack  Denham  rung  up  an  hour  ago 
to  ask  if  you  were  here.  I  told  him  you  had 
gone  out  to  bring  back  Mr.  Edward."  They 
were  up  the  stairs  now,  and  inside  the  sitting- 
room. 


250  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  Get  him  to  bed,  Jenkins,  I'll  ring  up  the 
doctor  and  Jack." 

Edward  Denham  turned  to  her.  "  I  want 
to  see  Doctor  Watman,"  he  said.  '  Tell  him 
to  come.  But  first,  I  want  to  thank  you 

"  Ah,  no,"  she  cried.  "  Please  don't.  I 
came  only  because  the  doctor  wouldn't  let 
Jack  go — he  thought  it  was  a  plant  you  see. 
Now  go  to  bed,  please.  Dr.  Watman  will  be 
here  to-morrow  and  look  after  you.  In  the 
meantime  I'll  do  my  best  until  he  comes." 

Edward  Denham  raised  her  hand  to  his  lips. 
"  You  are  the  bravest  woman  I  know,"  he  said, 
hoarsely. 

"  Don't  do  that,"  said  Elise,  unsteadily. 
'  You  are  going  to  be  my  brother,  so  I  may 
call  you  Edward,  and  you — may  kiss  me 
properly,  if  you  like." 

"  I'm  glad,"  he  said.  "  Glad— Jack  wants 
someone  like  you  to  look  after  him."  Then 
he  kissed  her  tenderly  and  left  her. 

She  turned  to  the  'phone.  At  the  other  end 
the  doctor  held  the  receiver  and  Jack  Denham 
waited  by  his  side. 

"  Hurry  up,  doctor.     What  does  she  say  ?" 

There  was  a  long  pause  while  the  old  man 
listened.  "  Yes,"  he  said.  "  Yes — at  once  ! 
I'll  come  by  the  early  train.  Thank  God  ! 
Thank  God  !  I  shall  never  forgive  myself  for 
this."  Then  he  turned  to  Jack.  "  It's  all 
right,"  he  said,  huskily.  "She  found  your 
brother — he's  ill,  but  will  soon  pull  round.  I 
am  to  go  up  to  him,  and  will  leave  on  the  early 


TWO  WOMEN  251 

train.     Jack,   my  boy,   can   you  ever  forgive 
me?  " 

Jack  caught  at  his  hand  and  wrung  it. 
"  There's  nothing  to  forgive,"  he  said.  '  We 
were  both  right — you  were  right,  and  so  was 
I— so  let's  forget  it." 


CHAPTER    IX 

BOLT    VERSUS    BAR 

DR.  WATMAN  summoned  up  to  London, 
from  his  nursing  home  in  Cornwall, 
took  one  of  the  attendants  aside. 

"  Look  here,  Musgrave,"  he  said,  "  I  have  to 
go  up,  as  you  know,  to  London  by  this  early 
train,  and  I  want  you  particularly  to  keep  your 
eyes  open  as  far  as  Mr.  Jack  Denham  is  con- 
cerned. You  know  that  we  are  keeping  him 
here  out  of  harm's  way  from  that  precious 
gang  of  thieves  who  are  out  to  kill  him — 
knowing  as  he  does,  too  much  about  them. 
You  also  know  that  his  one  aim  and  object  in 
life  is  to  get  at  them,  and  get  some  of  his  own 
back." 

'  Yes,  sir,"  said  the  man,  grinning.  "  And 
we  have  to  see  that  he  doesn't." 

"  Quite  so,  nothing  short  of  forcible  measures 
are  of  any  use.  Therefore,  while  I  am  away 
I  want  you  to  be  particularly  careful.  But  I 
must  explain  the  reason  of  my  visit  up  to 
London,  which  will  show  you  how  serious 
matters  are.  Four  days  ago  Mr.  Edward 
Denham,  the  young  man's  elder  brother,  was 
trapped  by  this  gang  and  has  been  kept  in  a 

253 


BOLT  VERSUS  BAR  253 

damp  cellar  without  food  or  drink  until  last 
night,  when  he  was  rescued.  They  wanted  to 
force  him  to  tell  where  his  brother  was." 

"  I  see,  sir,  pretty  serious  it  seems  to  me. 
Isn't  it  possible  to  get  on  to  them  ?  ' 

"  Impossible,  at  present,  for  this  reason — 
there  is  a  woman  among  this  gang  with  more 
humanity  than  the  rest  of  them.  She  got 
scared  and  induced  Mr.  Edward  to  give  her  his 
brother's  address.  She  'phoned  here  to  him 
and  asked  him  to  come  and  help  rescue  his 
brother,  as  she  couldn't  do  it  alone.  All  this 
she  did  on  condition  that  neither  of  them  gave 
anything  away  to  the  police." 

"  I  see  the  point,  sir,"  said  Musgrave. 

"  As  you  know — I,  thinking  it  was  a  plant 
to  get  hold  of  Mr.  Denham  here,  refused  to  let 
him  go,  but  his  fiancee,  Mrs.  Allwood  went 
up  herself  and  got  Mr.  Edward  back  to  his 
home." 

"  Very  plucky  lady,  that,  sir,"  commented 
the  man. 

"  Yes,  she  is  wonderful.  Well,  now  you 
understand,"  went  on  the  old  doctor.  "  I  have 
to  go  up  and  see  to  Mr.  Edward,  who  is  ill, 
and  I  have  to  leave  Mr.  Denham  in  your  charge. 
If  he  gets  away  he  will  make  a  bee  line  for  this 
den  of  criminals,  and  probably  get  killed." 

"  Quite  so,  sir.  But  you  have  no  need  to 
worry,  sir — he  can't  climb  the  wall,  and  the 
gates  are  always  locked,  and  I  and  Barton  will 
take  it  in  turns  to  watch  him." 

Meanwhile,  the  subject  of  this  conversation 


254  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

who  had  been  thinking  pretty  hard  for  some 
time,  and  whose  fertile  brain  was  busy  with  a 
plan,  was  outside  the  house  talking  to  the 
cab-driver — the  village  did  not  boast  a  taxi 
yet — who  was  waiting  to  convey  Dr.  Watman 
to  the  station. 

"  When  is  the  next  train  up  to  London  ?  ' 
he  asked  the  man  casually,  with  an  eye  towards 
the   door,  where   at   any  moment   the   doctor 
might  appear. 

"  One-forty,  sir — getting  to  London  about 
eight  o'clock  or  so "  was  the  reply. 

"  Are  you  from  the  station  ?  "  inquired  Jack, 
lighting  a  cigarette. 

"  No,  sir,  I  come  from  the  Hare  and  Hounds 
Hotel  in  the  village." 

"  How  far  is  that  ?  " 

"  About  a  quarter  of  a  mile  off,  sir,  straight 
along  the  London  Road." 

"  Oh,  yes,  of  course,  we  passed  it  on  our  way 
here,  I  remember.  Well,  I  may  want  to  get 
that  one-forty 

"  Shall  I  come  here  for  you,  sir  ?  "  asked  the 
man. 

"  Good  Lord,  no  !  "  said  Jack,  with  a  grimace. 
"No,  I'll  come  to  you,  if  I  decide  to  go,  so  be 
ready,  I  may  run  it  fine." 

"  AU  right,  sir,  I'll  be  there/' 

The  doctor's  voice  broke  in  on  the  dialogue 
and  Jack  turned  quickly.  Could  he  have  heard 
the  last  words  ?  Well,  he  had  to  risk  it. 

"  I'm  just  off,"  he  was  saying.  "  I'll  ring 
you  up  as  soon  as  I  find  out  how  Edward  is." 


BOLT  VERSUS  BAR  255 

'  Yes,  do,"  said  Jack,  eagerly.  "  And  send 
Elise  back.  It's  damned  rotten  being  here  by 
myself.  If  you  had  a  spark  of  humanity  in 
you,  doc.,  you'd  let  me  go  with  you." 

"  It's  because  I  have  that  I  don't,"  was  the 

reply.  "  Well,  good-bye,  don't  worry,  and " 

he  bent  down  and  lowered  his  voice — "  avoid 
giving  Musgrave  and  Barton  any  trouble,  you 
know  what  I  mean.  It  won't  pay,  my  dear 
fellow." 

Jack  laughed.  "  I  have  experienced  some 
of  Musgrave 's  methods  already,"  he  said. 
"  Don't  you  worry." 

He  stood  there  and  watched  the  cab  dis- 
appear down  the  drive.  Then,  his  thoughts 
concentrating  on  the  plan  he  had  suddenly 
evolved  in  his  mind,  he  turned  and  strolled 
across  the  lawns  and  down  the  terrace  towards 
the  lake. 

The  garden  was  large,  and  surrounded  by 
high  trees,  at  the  back  of  which  rose  the  solid 
twenty  feet  wall  without  a  break  until  the  gates 
were  reached,  and  these  he  knew,  were  locked 
day  and  night. 

"  Rather  a  tough  proposition,"  he  mused, 
puffing  away  at  a  cigarette.  "  But  not  an 
impossible  one.  Barton  and  Musgrave  will  be 
damned  clever  men  if  they  can  keep  me  here, 
when  the  one  thing  I  am  determined  upon  is 
to  get  out."  He  paused,  and  hearing  a  sound 
behind,  glanced  round. 

It  was  the  man  Musgrave  strolling  casually 
towards  him. 


256  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  HaUo  !  "  he  said.     "  Want  anything  ?  " 

"  No,  sir — thought  I'd  look  round  the  garden, 
sir." 

"  And  incidentally  see  if  I  was  thinking  of 
stepping  lightly  over  that  wall,  I  suppose. 
Looks  simple,  doesn't  it  ?  '"  said  Jack,  with 
quiet  sarcasm.  "  If  I  didn't  know  you  to  be  an 
ordinary  sensible  fellow,  Musgrave,  I  should  take 
you  for  a  damn  fool." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  said  the  man,  grinning. 
"  I  had  no  idea  you  were  thinking  of  getting 
over  the  wall,  sir." 

"  And  have  I  said  I  was  ?  "  demanded  Jack, 
indignantly. 

"  Well,  sir,  as  you  seemed  to  suspect  me  of 
watching  you,  and  you  referred  to  the  wall, 
I  naturally  concluded  that  it's  what  you  had 
in  your  mind." 

"  Infernally  cute  of  you,"  said  Jack.  "  You 
ought  to  have  been  a  detective,  not  a  keeper. 
But  as  it  happens  you  are  wrong.  Doesn't 
it  occur  to  your  cotton  wool  brain  that  if  you 
go  and  shut  a  fellow  up  against  his  will  that  the 
one  thing  he  is  always  thinking  of,  is  how  he  is 
going  to  get  away  ?  Don't  you  know,  you 
priceless  innocent,  that  if  you  are  told  not  to  do 
anything,  or  go  anywhere,  it  is  the  one  thing 
you  want  most  in  life  to  do,  and  the  one  place 
you  must  get  to  or  die  ?  That's  human  nature, 
isn't  it  ?  ' 

"  I  quite  understand,  sir.  And  that's  why 
I  have  come  to  look  round  the  garden,"  and  he 
smiled  and  walked  on. 


BOLT   VERSUS   BAR  257 

"  He  got  the  best  of   that,"  mused   Jack. 
"  But  my  time  is  coming." 

He  strolled  on  along  the  path  that  went  the 
whole  way  round  the  garden  and  was  shaded 
by  the  immense  trees  that  grew  on  either  side. 
It  was  these  trees  that  Jack  was  banking  on. 
Surely  one  of  them  could  be  found  to  act  as  a 
helping  hand  over  that  infernal  wall  !  Firs 
were  no  good — they  had  no  spreading  branches. 
And  what  he  wanted  was  a  branch  sticking  out 
over  the  top  of  the  wall.  It  would  be  a  nasty 
drop  on  the  other  side,  but  that  had  to  be 
risked.  The  next  point  was — did  he  find  such 
a  tree  as  he  wanted,  could  he  climb  it  without 
being  seen  ?  Musgrave  was  evidently  watching 
him,  and  Musgrave  was  about  as  tough  a  pro- 
position as  was  to  be  found  in  the  place,  for  his 
strength  was  enormous,  and,  in  spite  of  his  size, 
he  was  agile  as  a  monkey.  The  very  man  for 
such  a  position  as  he  held. 

He  regretted  now  that  all  the  twelve  days  he 
had  been  there  he  had  never  looked  for  such 
a  tree  before.  But,  after  he  had  met  Elise 
here,  undergoing  her  rest  cure,  he  had  had  no 
more  thought  or  wish  to  escape.  Now  she  was 
in  London,  and  he  alone,  and  once  more  the  mad 
desire  to  get  at  his  enemies  and  be  revenged 
for  the  ills  he  had  suffered  at  their  hands,  was 
uppermost  with  him.  And  now  they  had 
attacked  not  only  himself,  but  his  brother, 
and  his  blood  boiled.  Edward,  Elise,  and 
himself  were  the  only  people  who  knew  the 
whereabouts  of  this  gang's  headquarters,  and 


258  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

because  of  their  promise  to  Molly,  the  girl,  they 
could  not  inform  the  police.     Therefore  it  was 
up  to  him  to  see  what  he  could  do  himself. 
But  how  ?     That  was  the  question.     If  he  didn't 
get  up  to  London  to-day,  the  odds  were  that 
these  blackguards  would  have  bolted,  for  it 
was  not  likely  they  would  stay  in  headquarters 
that  were    known    to    three    outsiders.      He 
glanced  at  his  watch,  nine  o'clock,  and  the  train 
went  at  1.40.     Four  hours  in  which  to  think 
out  a  way  of  escape,  and  accomplish  it.     He 
continued   his   walk   along   the   path,    eyeing 
every  tree  he  came  to,  and  at  last,  at  the  far 
end  of  the  garden  he  came  upon  one  that,  at 
a  pinch  and  some  risk,  might  serve.     It  was  an 
oak,  and  its  branches  spread  wide,  one  parti- 
cular branch  just  about  a  yard  above  the  top 
of  the  wall,  on  which  he  remembered  were  spikes, 
and  bits  of  glass.    The  branch,  too,  grew  thin, 
just  where  it  topped  the  wall,  and  might  very 
possibly  break,  in  which  case  he  would  in  all 
likelihood  fall  right  on  top  of  the  murderous 
glass.     Not    a    pleasant    prospect,    but,    after 
having  gone  the  entire  round  of  the  garden,  he 
found  it  was  the  only  tree  available  for  his  pur- 
pose.   That  being  the  case — what  he  had  to 
concentrate  on  now,   was  the  elimination   of 
Musgrave. 

Musgrave,  prowling  round  as  he  was  doing, 
was  badly  in  the  way.  He  reflected  here,  that 
one  of  the  precious  gang  on  the  scene,  with  a 
grudge  against  Musgrave,  and  a  handy  weapon 
would  be  decidedly  an  asset.  Then  he  laughed. 


BOLT   VERSUS   BAR  259 

Poor  Musgrave,  quite  a  decent  fellow,  and  only 
doing  his  duty  after  all.  No,  that  sort  of 
thinking  wouldn't  do,  and  moreover,  it  led 
nowhere.  He  must  try  strategy. 

How  about  pretending  to  feel  ill,  and  sending 
him  for  some  brandy  ?  No,  that  wouldn't 
do — in  all  probability  he  would  carry  him  in, 
straight  away,  and  deposit  him  upstairs  in  bed, 
which  would  be  fatal.  Besides,  it  was  too  soon, 
and  they  would  catch  him  outside  if  he  got 
to  the  station  before  the  train  was  due  to  start. 
He  had  to  time  his  escape  pretty  accurately, 
which  was  a  confounded  nuisance. 

How  about  a  game  of  tennis  with  Barton, 
the  other  attendant  ?  He  knew  he  could  play, 
for  Barton  had  told  him  so,  when  he  was 
chatting  to  him  in  his  bedroom.  He  would  get 
him  to  play  and  keep  him  at  it.  Jack  himself 
never  got  tired  playing  tennis,  Barton  probably 
would.  Also,  the  presence  of  Barton  as  an 
opponent  would  eliminate  the  necessity  for 
Musgrave  as  a  guard.  They  would  only  be 
there  one  at  a  time,  one  to  relieve  the  other, 
and  when  he  had  tired  Barton  out,  he  would 
send  him  in  to  fetch  Musgrave  to  carry  on 
until  lunch  time.  That  would  be  the  psychologi- 
cal moment  for  his  attempted  escape.  He  would 
only  have  a  few  minutes  to  do  it  in,  but  that 
ought  to  suffice.  There  was  no  car  here,  the 
attendants  would  have  to  follow  on  foot,  in 
the  meantime  he  would  be  in  the  only  available 
cab  in  the  village.  It  all  sounded  feasible, 
and  practicable.  The  only  hitch  that  might 


26o  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

occur  would  be  the  inopportune  arrival  of 
Musgrave  on  the  scene  before  Barton  was 
sufficiently  tired  to  be  disposed  of.  Well,  that 
he  had  to  risk.  If  they  caught  him,  his  goose 
would  be  very  successfully  cooked,  for  there  was 
no  doubt  that  after  that  they  would  keep  him 
fast  in  his  rooms  until  the  return  of  the  doctor. 
Therefore  he  must  not  fail.  He  walked  back 
to  the  house  and  called  for  Barton. 

"  Yes,  sir,  did  you  want  me  ?  "  the  man  came 
hurrying  into  the  hall. 

"  I  want  to  know  if  you'll  have  a  game  of 
tennis  with  me  ?  "  he  said.  "I'm  getting  fed 
up  doing  nothing." 

"  Certainly,  sir,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  shall  be 
very  pleased  to,  I'll  get  the  racquets." 

While  he  was  gone,  Jack  took  his  felt  hat 
from  the  peg  in  the  hall,  and  strolled  down 
beyond  the  tennis  courts  and  hid  it  in  a  bush 
that  he  would  have  to  pass  in  his  precipitate 
flight  to  the  oak  tree.  He  changed  into  a  pair 
of  brown  tennis  shoes ;  but  kept  on  his  ordinary 
clothes. 

Then  he  retraced  his  steps  and  waited  for 
Barton. 

Much  to  his  relief,  with  the  appearance  of 
Barton  on  the  scene,  armed  with  racquets  and 
balls,  Musgrave  took  himself  off,  and  went  back 
into  the  house. 

So  far  his  plan  was  maturing  well.  It  rested 
now  on  how  long  he  could  get  Barton  to  play, 
and  then,  on  the  exact  time  of  the  reappearance 
of  Musgrave  on  the  scene.  There  was  certainly 


BOLT  VERSUS  BAR  261 

a  lot  that  had  to  be  left  to  luck  in  this  scheme 
of  his,  but  he  could  not  in  the  time  think  of  a 
better  one — it  had  to  do. 

They  played  steadily  until  half -past  ten, 
then  Barton  cried  off. 

'  We'll  have  to  rest  a  bit,  sir,"  he  said. 

"By  all  means,"  replied  Jack,  amiably. 
"  Let's  go  to  the  house  and  have  some  refresh- 
ment and  smokes,  and  then  you  must  have  your 
revenge.  I  beat  you  pretty  badly  then, 
Barton." 

"  I  know,  sir.  I  shall  be  glad  of  a  drink. 
I  suppose  you  wouldn't  care  to  take  Musgrave 
on,  sir,  he's  not  a  bad  player,  and  a  good 
stayer." 

"  No  thanks,"  grinned  Jack.  "  You  are  more 
up  to  my  style.  I  shall  end  by  making  a  player 
of  you,  Barton,  if  I  stay  in  this  God-forsaken 
place  long  enough." 

"  It's  not  a  bad  hole,  sir." 

"  It  would  be  fine  if  I  didn't  want  to  get  out 
of  it,"  said  Jack,  as  they  strolled  back  to  the 
house. 

"  That's  true,  sir,"  said  the  other.  "  There's 
a  deal  in  that.  I  believe  Parkhurst  is  quite 
a  nice  place,  only  the  inmates  don't  seem  to 
notice  it — and  the  views  all  round  Dartmoor 
are  wonderful,  but  completely  lost  on  the 
working  gangs,  sir." 

'  You've  expressed  the  position  admirably, 
Barton,"  said  Jack  with  a  laugh.  '  We'll  rest 
for  an  hour,"  he  added,  "  at  least  I  shall;  you 
do  as  you  like,  but  come  back  in  an  hour, 


262       THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

anyway,  and  I'll  give  you  your  revenge.  I 
mean  to  play  till  nearly  one  o'clock." 

"  Good  Lord,  sir,  you'll  tire  yourself  out," 
objected  the  man. 

"  Best  thing  to  do  under  the  circumstances," 
he  retorted. 

When  the  man  had  gone,  he  went  up  to  his 
room  and  got  some  money.  He  had  no  weapon 
with  him  here,  and  reflected  that  on  arriving 
in  London,  instead  of  going  off  to  Golder's  Green 
as  he  had  thought,  he  would  have  to  look  in 
at  his  rooms  in  Lennox  Street,  sneak  in  like  a 
thief,  in  fact,  and  try  and  get  hold  of  his  revolver 
without  anyone  there  being  the  wiser.  Rather 
difficult  seeing  that  not  only  was  Doctor 
Watman  there,  but  Elise  also,  and  young 
Jenkins.  Well,  Jenkins  could  be  squared. 

He  loitered  about  for  the  rest  of  the  hour, 
and  then  once  more  betook  himself  to  the 
tennis  court.  Barton  was  there,  waiting. 
They  played.  Gradually  time  moved  on.  As 
it  grew  nearer  to  the  moment  when  he  would 
have  to  make  his  attempt,  he  felt  his  heart 
beginning  to  beat  uncomfortably.  Such  a  lot 
depended  on  the  time  he  had  at  his  disposal 
between  the  going  of  Barton  and  the  coming 
of  Musgrave.  With  luck  he  might  count  on 
about  seven  minutes,  at  the  worst  five. 

At  last  he  glanced  at  his  watch.  It  was  a 
quarter  to  one — lunch  was  at  half -past .  As  they 
finished  the  set  he  flung  himself  on  the  ground. 

'  I'm  done  in,"  he  said.  "  And  you  look 
pretty  well  cooked,  Barton.  I  vote  we  stop. 


BOLT  VERSUS  BAR  263 

111  stay  here  till  luncheon  is  ready,  you  go  in 
if  you  want  to." 

Barton,  panting,  and  extremely  hot,  stood 
regarding  him  for  a  moment. 

"  Better  come  in,  sir.  It's  a  bit  damp  on 
that  grass." 

"  All  the  better,"  said  Jack,  lying  full  length. 
"  I'll  cool  off  the  sooner." 

Again  Barton  hesitated.  "  You  ought  to 
have  more  sense,  sir,"  he  expostulated.  "  Better 
come  in." 

"  Go  to  blazes,  Barton,  and  tell  them  to  push 
on  with  the  grub.  I'm  hungry  !  "  said  Jack. 

Then  Barton  did  what  Jack  had  not  calculated 
on,  he  took  a  whistle  from  his  pocket  and  blew 
it  loudly. 

"What's  that  for,  the  police?  "  he  asked, 
getting  up  suddenly  and  putting  on  his  coat. 

"No,  sir,"  said  Barton,  and  without  another 
word  he  walked  off  to  the  house. 

Jack  Denham,  however,  knew  very  well  that 
it  was  for  Musgrave.  This  would  probably  mean 
failure  of  ah1  his  plans.  It  meant  that  instead 
of  seven  minutes,  he  would  have  only  two  or 
three.  He  walked  rapidly  towards  the  bush 
under  which  he  had  hidden  his  hat,  and  with  a 
glance  back,  he  started  to  run  in  among  the  trees. 
That  glance  had  been  enough.  He  had  seen 
Musgrave  coming  out  of  the  hall  window  on 
to  the  terrace.  It  depended  now,  on  how  long 
it  took  him  to  climb  that  infernal  tree,  and  how 
fast  Musgrave  could  run.  Jack  himself  was 
fleet  as  a  hare.  He  did  his  best  now,  sprinting 


264  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

down  the  path  as  though  his  very  life  depended 
on  it.  His  liberty  did,  anyhow,  and  that  was 
much  the  same  thing  to  him. 

He  heard  Musgrave's  heavy  footsteps  behind. 
He  must  have  seen  him  run,  or  worse  still,  that 
fellow  Barton,  as  cute  as  a  weasel,  might  have 
grown  suspicious  and  hence  the  reason  for  his 
call  to  Musgrave.  Anyhow,  it  didn't  much 
matter  which  it  was,  the  result  was  the  same. 
Musgrave  was  after  him  and  there  were  not  more 
than  a  hundred  and  fifty  yards  between  them, 
and  he  had  that  tree  to  negotiate. 

He  heard  Musgrave  shout  to  him  to  stop, 
but  of  course,  paid  no  heed,  and  didn't  look  back, 
as  he  knew  he  would  lose  ground  by  doing  so. 
He  gained  the  tree  at  last,  sprang  at  a  branch, 
missed  it  and  fell ;  cursing  volubly  he  picked 
himself  up,  and  tried  again.  This  time  he 
reached  it,  got  a  hold  on  the  trunk  with  his 
shoes,  and  swung  himself  up.  Then  he  looked 
back. 

Musgrave  running  hard,  was  fifty  yards  away. 
Jack,  his  heart  beating  cruelly,  crawled  along 
the  branch,  seized  another  overhead  and 
climbed  higher.  He  was  on  a  level  now  with 
the  branch  that  was  the  goal  he  was  aiming 
at,  and  Musgrave  was  twenty  yards  off.  Now 
he  was  astride  the  big  out -stretching  arm,  and 
as  he  squirmed  along  towards  the  wall,  Musgrave 
was  underneath  him. 

"  Come  down,  sir,"  he  panted  angrily. 
'  What  the  blazes  are  you  trying  to  do  ?  " 

'What  does  it  look  like?"  retorted  Jack. 


BOLT  VERSUS  BAR  265 

He  was  standing  on  the  top  of  the  wall  now, 
holding  on  to  the  branch  for  support.  It  had 
held  his  weight,  but  that  was  aft. 

"  You  can't  get  down  that  way,"  cried  Mus- 
grave.  "  You'll  hurt  yourself  with  that  drop 
on  the  other  side." 

"  That's  my  affair,"  said  Jack.  "  I'll  take 
the  risk  anyhow." 

With  an  oath  Musgrave  set  off  along  the  path 
towards  the  gate.  Jack  had  feared  that  he 
might  have  done  this  before,  which  would  be 
fatal  for  him,  as  he  had  to  pass  the  gate  on  his 
way  to  the  village.  As  it  was,  it  was  almost 
possible  that  the  man  might  get  there  first. 
At  any  rate  he  had  to  take  the  chance.  He 
let  go  of  the  branch,  and  trusting  for  luck  and 
a  soft  fall,  he  dropped. 

He  fell  on  grass,  and  was  shaken,  but  in  no 
way  hurt.  So  he  picked  himself  up,  seized  his 
hat  which  had  fallen  off,  and  set  out  running 
across  the  field.  If  there  were  any  obstacles, 
such  as  railings,  he  would  be  done.  But  there 
were  none.  So  far  luck  was  on  his  side.  How 
long  would  it  last,  he  wondered.  He  was  nearing 
the  gate — he  heard  sharp  voices  there,  then  a 
grating  sound.  As  he  passed  he  had  a  vision 
of  the  big  iron  gates  swinging  open  and  Mus- 
grave's  huge  figure  running  out — he  passed 
him  by  a  yard.  It  was  purely  a  matter  now  of 
speed,  and  Jack,  the  younger  and  lighter  by  a 
good  bit ,  began  to  gain .  He  dared  not  look  back, 
but  he  felt  he  was  gaining.  If  only  he  could 
put  fifty  yards  between  himself  and  his  pursuer 


266  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

before  he  reached  the  hotel  he  might  have  time. 
But  could  he  ?  Also  there  was  the  grave  ques- 
tion as  to  whether  the  cab  would  be  ready. 
The  man  might  think  he  was  not  coming. 
Then,  too,  and  this  was  the  worst  possibility 
of  all  to  be  reckoned  with  :  if  Musgrave  got 
up  before  they  were  off  he  would  stop  the  man 
from  going.  Everyone  in  the  place  must  know 
that  Doctor  Watman  kept  patients,  and  that 
attendants  were  there  to  look  after  them. 
The  cab-driver  would  obey  Musgrave  before  he 
would  obey  Jack  Denham,  and  Jack  knew  it. 
He  thought  of  all  this  as  he  ran,  and  it  lent 
wings  to  his  speed.  Presently  the  village  was 
in  sight,  and  now  the  inn  ;  and  before  the 
inn  door  a  cab  was  standing,  the  driver  staring 
down  the  road  along  which  the  two  men  were 
running. 

Jack,  not  knowing  how  long  it  took  to  get 
to  the  station,  drew  a  bow  at  a  venture.  The 
odds  were  that  he  was  pretty  late  and  anyhow 
it  was  his  only  chance. 

"  Get  onto  the  box !  "  he  shouted.  "  I  may 
lose  my  train." 

The  man  heard,  ran  to  the  front  of  the  cab 
and  climbed  up.  Jack,  his  breath  coming  in 
long  gasping  sobs,  for  he  was  almost  exhausted, 
ran  up,  and  for  a  moment  stood  holding  on  to 
the  cab  door. 

"  Get  in,  sir.  You've  run  it  too  fine  I'm 
afraid.  I  thought  you  wasn't  coming."  The 
cabman's  voice  was  urgent.  Jack,  with  a 
supreme  effort  jumped  in  and  as  he  did  so  he 


BOLT  VERSUS  BAR  267 

heard  a  shout  from  Musgrave  not  thirty  yards 
away. 

"Stop,  man!"  he  caUed.  "He's  one  of 
the  doctor's  patients,  don't  take  him — he's 
mad  !  " 

The  man  stared,  then  turned  and  looked  at 
Jack. 

"  Go  on,  you  damned  fool,"  said  Jack,  his 
head  out  of  the  window.  "It's  a  lie — I'm 
nothing  of  the  sort.  There'll  be  a  pound  for 
you,  if  you  get  to  the  station  in  time."  He 
thrust  a  note  into  the  man's  face. 

"I'm  sorry,  sir,"  he  said.  "  I  can't  go  agin 
Mr.  Musgrave.  Ill  wait  till  he  comes  up." 
And  he  deliberately  got  down  from  his  seat. 

Jack  thrust  open  the  door  and  got  out.  This 
was  the  end  of  it,  then,  unless  he  did  what, 
though  hateful  to  him,  was  the  only  thing  to 
do,  and  save  the  situation.  Musgrave  had  been 
too  much  for  him,  he  must  therefore  be  one  too 
many  for  the  driver.  He  strode  up  to  him, 
and  at  a  well-delivered  blow  the  man  all 
unsuspecting  doubled  up,  and  fell  sprawling 
on  the  ground.  After  all  Musgrave  had  said 
he  was  mad.  So  he  might  as  well  act  the  part, 
and  in  any  case  the  man  was  not  hurt.  As 
Jack  sprang  into  the  driving  seat,  Musgrave, 
panting  and  furious  ran  up.  He  was,  however, 
a  second  too  late,  for  Jack  was  off,  as  fast  as 
the  old  horse  could  gallop.  He  had  not  the 
faintest  notion  as  to  where  the  station  was, 
but  as  the  cab  had  been  facing  that  way,  he 
supposed  he  was  going  in  the  right  direction. 


268  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

A  little  farther  on,  he  met  a  car  driving  slowly ; 
he  pulled  up,  there  was  only  the  driver  inside. 

"  Can  you  tell  me  the  way  to  Treloar 
Station? "  he  asked. 

"  Straight  on,  about  three  miles,"  said  the 
man.  "  Turn  to  your  right  at  the  top  of  the 
steep  hill,  you'll  find  it  a  stiff  one  to  negotiate." 

"  Thanks,"  said  Jack,  and  glanced  at  his 
watch.  It  was  after  one  o'clock,  and  he  knew 
there  was  not  much  speed  to  be  got  out  of  this 
old  horse.  The  motorist,  with  a  glance  of  faint 
curiosity  at  the  man  on  the  box,  for  he  didn't 
look  like  the  usual  cab-driver,  went  on,  and  with 
his  departure  there  occurred  to  the  fugitive 
another  horrible  idea,  which  was  that  Musgrave, 
in  his  desperation,  might  stop  the  motorist 
and  get  him  to  follow  on  after  the  runaway. 
If  so  he  would  be  fairly  done,  for  the  car  was  a 
high-powered  machine  and  would  simply  walk 
over  him.  However,  against  this  there  was 
the  fact  that  he  had  a  bit  of  a  start ;  then  the 
man  had  to  get  to  the  inn  first,  and  he  was 
driving  slowly.  Also,  he  would  have  to  be 
commandeered,  and  he  might  quite  possibly 
refuse  or  only  give  in  and  agree  after  much 
hesitation  and  time  would  have  been  lost. 
Anything  might  happen. 

Soon  he  found  himself  at  the  commencement 
of  a  steep  hill  and  here  an  idea,  or  as  he  termed 
it  when  recounting  the  facts  later  to  Elise, 
something  in  the  nature  of  a  brain-wave  occurred 
to  him.  It  would  be  far  easier  and  quicker 
to  ride  up  it  than  to  try  and  urge  the  wretched 


BOLT   VERSUS   BAR  269 

animal  to  drag  the  heavy  cab  after  him,  and 
certainly  more  humane,  which  was  a  decided 
consideration  where  Jack  Denham  was  con- 
cerned. Quick  as  thought,  he  unharnessed  the 
horse,  having  first  drawn  the  cab  across  the  road 
(he  could  picture  Musgrave's  and  the  motorist's 
faces  and  imagine  the  lurid  language  when  they 
found  it  so),  threw  all  the  harness  except  the 
bridle  inside,  and  sprang  on  to  the  animal's 
back. 

He  burst  out  laughing  as  he  reflected  upon  the 
comical  appearance  he  must  present.  The 
horse,  a  rawboned,  long-maned,  flowing  tailed 
crock;  its  rider,  a  young  man  in  immaculate 
blue  serge  coat,  flannel  trousers  and  tennis 
shoes,  astride  its  bony,  saddleless  back,  urging 
it  on  with  fist  and  heels,  and  with  desperately 
anxious  face  turned  at  each  second  over  his 
shoulder  to  see  if  he  were  being  followed. 

Half-way  up  the  hill  he  came  upon  an  old  man 
carrying  a  pack  over  his  shoulder,  who  stared 
at  him  in  a  kind  of  terrified  amaze. 

"  How  far  to  the  station  ?  "  shouted  Jack, 
not  daring  to  slacken  speed  for  the  answer. 
But  there  was  no  answer,  for  the  old  man  only 
stared  with  his  mouth  open  and  stood  where  he 
was,  gazing  after  him  until  he  disappeared  over 
the  brow  of  the  hill. 

"  If  I  look  as  odd  as  that,"  reflected  Jack, 
"  perhaps  they'll  guess  at  the  station  where  1 
come  from  and  detain  me.  Come  on,  old  man, 
get  a  move  on.  I'm  sorry  to  force  the  pace 
but  needs  must  when  Musgrave  follows  on," 


270  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

Then  taking  the  motorist's  advice,  he  turned 
down  a  road  to  the  right  and  rode  on  as  fast  as 
the  old  horse  could  go.  It  was  a  fairly  straight 
and  good  road,  and  many  times  he  looked  back 
to  see  if  he  was  being  followed.  No  one  was 
in  sight  yet,  anyhow.  Surely  he  must  have 
gone  half  the  distance.  His  impatience  was 
getting  the  better  of  him,  and  again  he  glanced 
at  his  watch.  It  was  twenty  minutes  past  one 
and  the  train  left  in  ten  minutes.  Not  a  mile- 
stone had  he  passed,  but  away  in  the  distance 
he  saw  telegraph  poles,  then  the  roofs  of  many 
houses  and,  very  far  off  he  heard  the  shrill 
whistle  of  an  engine. 

Once  more  he  glanced  over  his  shoulder  ; 
this  time  there  was  a  solitary  cyclist  on  the  road, 
pedalling  hard  and  palpably  gaining  on  him. 
He  knew  instinctively  that  it  was  Musgrave. 
So  the  motorist  had  jibbed,  if,  that  is,  he  had 
ever  been  asked  at  all.  He  urged  the  old  horse 
on,  and  came  to  a  hill  up  which  he  knew  Mus- 
grave would  have  to  walk.  So  he  urged  the 
steed  into  a  gallop,  turned  a  sharp  corner  at 
the  summit,  and,  with  his  heart  in  his  mouth, 
for  the  animal's  forelegs  were  nothing  to  boast 
about,  took  the  incline  at  a  canter  and  clattered 
into  the  town. 

It  was  market  day  and  the  main  street  was 
crowded.  Jack,  aware  that  inquiring  eyes  were 
upon  him,  picked  his  way  skilfully  between 
carts  and  pedestrians. 

"  Going  to  win  the  Grand  National,  mister  ?  " 
asked  a  wit  among  the  crowd. 


BOLT  VERSUS  BAR  271 

"  Probably,"  replied  Jack,  "  if  you  give  the 
animal  a  chance  and  take  your  face  out  of  the 
way.  My  horse  shies  at  things  like  that,  and 
I'm  in  a  hurry."  The  crowd  laughed  and  he 
thrust  his  way  through.  Came  to  a  corner 
where  another  street  crossed  and  where  a 
policeman  was  regulating  the  traffic. 

"  Which  way  to  the  station,  constable  ?  " 
he  asked.  The  man  turned  and  looked  at  him. 
It  was  a  comprehensive  stare  in  which  no 
detail  was  lost. 

"  Police  station  ?  "  he  asked.  "  I  can  take  you 
there  if  you  like." 

"No,"  said  Jack,  grinning.  "  Railway." 
And  then,  seeing  an  empty  taxi  waiting  outside 
an  inn  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street,  he  put 
up  his  hand  and  the  driver  nodded.  Jack 
sprang  off  the  horse  and  led  it  up  to  the  con- 
stable. 

"  Hang  on  to  this,  old  man,  for  a  minute. 
It  won't  bite  or  bolt,  whatever  it  may  look  like," 
and,  flinging  the  reins  over  the  constable's 
head,  he  dashed  across  the  road  and  held  out 
a  ten-shilling  note  to  the  taxi-driver.  "  This  is 
yours  if  you  get  me  to  the  station  in  time  to 
catch  the  London  express,"  he  said,  and  sprang 
in.  As  the  driver  started  the  engine,  Jack  put 
his  head  out  and  shouted  to  the  enraged  but 
impotent  constable. 

"  It  belongs  to  the  pub  at  Treloar.  Tell 
'em  to  give  it  an  extra  feed  of  corn  and  a  bottle 
of  brandy,  and  charge  it  to  my  account.  They'll 
know  who  I  am." 


272  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  I  should  think  they  would,"  growled  the 
policeman,  eyeing  the  animal  he  held  with  anger 
and  distrust.  And  then  he  saw  Musgrave, 
one  of  the  keepers  at  Treloar  Hall  whom  he 
knew,  coming  along  on  his  bicycle,  and  called 
out  to  him. 

"  Here  !    What  am  I  to  do  with  this  ?  ' 

"  How  the  devil  should  I  know  ?  "  retorted 
Musgrave,  very  flushed  and  as  angry  as  the 
policeman.  "  You  took  charge  of  it  so  I 
suppose  you  are  responsible.  Where's  his 
rider  ?  ' 

"  Taxied  to  the  station,"  was  the  reply. 
"  Know  him  ?  ' 

"  Comes  from  our  place,"  snapped  Musgrave 
as  he  rode  on. 

'  You  surprise  me,"  said  the  constable,  with 
cutting  sarcasm.  "  Pity  you  don't  learn  to 
look  after  'em  better."  But  Musgrave  was  out 
of  earshot,  and  a  Treloar  farmer  arriving  on 
the  scene,  the  constable  proceeded  to  make 
arrangements  concerning  his  unwelcome  charge. 

In  the  meantime  Jack  had  reached  the 
station,  sprung  out  of  the  taxi  and  handed  the 
note  to  the  driver. 

"  Thanks,  old  fellow,  I'll  remember  you  in  my 
will." 

The  train  was  in,  he  saw  that  it  was  on  the 
verge  of  departure,  and  Musgrave  was  twenty 
yards  behind.  Could  he  do  it  ?  He  ran 
through  the  booking  office  on  to  the  platform  ; 
there  was  no  time  for  a  ticket,  already  the 
train  was  moving  out.  He  sprinted  across  the 


BOLT   VERSUS   BAR  273 

platform  and  barged  into  a  porter,  sending  him 
sprawling. 

"  Sorry,  old  bean,"  he  said  as  he  seized  the 
handle  of  a  carriage  door,  "  I  had  to  catch  this 
train  or  die." 

'  Pity  you  didn't  die  then,"  growled  the  man, 
picking  himself  up.  The  guard  shouted  at  him, 
but  he  was  in  and  the  door  shut,  and,  putting 
his  head  out  of  the  window  he  saw  Musgrave 
running  towards  him,  panting  and  furious. 
Jack  waved  his  hand. 

"  Sorry,  Musgrave,"  he  called,  "  I  had  to 
do  it.  Give  this  to  the  cabby  at  Treloar,  he 
deserves  it,"  and  screwing  a  pound  note  into  a 
ball,  he  flung  it  out  at  Musgrave's  feet. 

Jack  Denham  sat  back  in  his  seat  and  chuckled. 
It  had  been  a  thrilling  escapade  while  it  lasted, 
and  now  that  it  was  over  and  he  had  time  to 
think,  he  remembered  that  he  had  had  no 
midday  meal  and  realised  that  he  was  uncom- 
monly hungry,  and  that  there  was  another 
occupant  of  the  carriage,  a  well-dressed  woman 
who  was  regarding  him  in  evident  perplexity 
and  distrust.  First  her  eyes  ranged  about  his 
face  which  was  flushed  and  decidedly  heated, 
then  they  travelled  to  his  immaculate  lounge 
coat  which,  together  with  flannel  trousers, 
was  hardly  appropriate  for  a  rather  chilly  day 
in  October.  She,  herself  wore  a  fur  coat 
and  was  grateful  for  it.  Finally  her  eyes  rested 
on  a  pair  of  well-worn  tennis  shoes.  They 
stopped  there,  and  Jack  began  to  feel  uncom- 
fortable. If  she  had  smiled,  all  would  have  been 


274  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

well,  but  she  didn't,  and  Jack  reflected  that  she 
didn't  look  like  a  woman  who  would  find  it 
easy  to  smile  at  anything.  He  liked  people  who 
smiled  easily,  especially  women.  He,  there- 
fore, wanted  to  get  away  from  this  one  who 
didn't  and  who  stared  stonily  at  him  instead. 
He  turned  to  her. 

"  Excuse  me,"  he  said,  "  but  would  you 
mind  telling  me  if  one  can  get  lunch  on  this 
train  ?  ' 

Her  eyes  left  his  shoes  and  soared  to  his 
face. 

'  I  believe  so,"  she  said  in  a  frosty  voice. 

' '  Thanks,  awfully, ' '  replied  Jack.  '  I'll  barge 
in  and  see  if  I  can  get  some  grub."  He  stood 
up,  arranged  his  tie  before  the  glass  and  smoothed 
his  hair.  He  had  noticed  in  his  mad  rush 
along  the  platform  that  the  train  seemed  pretty 
full,  and  he  did  not  look  forward  with  any 
pleasure  to  a  journey  of  several  hours  spent  in 
the  company  of  this  unsmiling  and  frosty  lady. 
And  so,  the  demon  of  mischief  entering  into  him, 
with  his  wish  for  a  carriage  to  himself,  he  said, 
casually  : 

'  You  know,  I'm  running  away  from  a  private 
luny  asylum,  that  accounts  for  my  rig,"  and  then, 
genially  :  "I  only  just  managed  it,  and  left 
the  keeper  dancing  with  rage  on  the  platform. 
Wasn't  it  a  lark  ?  ' 

"  Oh  !  "  said  the  lady,  and  the  frost  had  given 
place  to  fear.  As  Jack  passed  out  into  the 
corridor  she  drew  herself  well  back  into  the 
corner,  and  when,  after  a  good  lunch  he  returned 


BOLT  VERSUS   BAR  275 

to  find  the  carriage  empty,  it  was  only  what 
he  had  expected. 

"  Thank  the  Lord,"  he  said,  and,  stretching 
to  his  full  length  on  the  seat,  he  slept  com- 
fortably and  peacefully  until  the  train  drew 
up  into  Reading  Station.  Instantly  he  was 
wide  awake.  The  odds  were  that  Musgrave 
would  have  wired  or  'phoned  to  Doctor  Watman, 
and  there  was  the  chance  that  someone  would  be 
waiting  for  him  at  Paddington.  This  was  an 
unexpected  opportunity  as  he  did  not  expect 
the  train  to  stop  before  the  terminus.  He 
reached  for  his  hat  and  was  making  for  the 
door  when  it  was  flung  open  and  the  guard 
waved  a  hand. 

"He's  in  there,  sir,"  and  in  stepped  Inspector 
Harper. 

"  I  might  have  guessed  that,"  said  Jack,  in 
utter  disgust. 

"  So  you  might/'  retorted  Harper,  sitting 
down  opposite  him,  "  and  spared  yourself  a 
long  journey  and  me  all  this  unnecessary 
trouble.  It's  true  I  happened  to  be  in  Reading 
on  a  job  when  the  message  came,  but  I  had  to 
have  the  express  stopped." 

"  Butting  in  on  my  private  concerns  isn't 
your  job  anyway,"  said  Jack  sourly. 

"  Well,"  retorted  the  other,  ignoring  the 
remark,  "  are  you  going  to  give  me  any  more 

trouble,   or '      He  put  his  hand  into  his 

pocket. 

'  What's   the   grizzly   alternative  ?  '     asked 
Jack. 


276  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  These,"  said  Harper,  holding  up  a  pair  of 
handcuffs.  Jack  burst  out  laughing. 

"  You  wouldn't  dare,"  he  said. 

"I'd  dare  anything  in  the  execution  of  my 
duty,"  was  the  reply. 

"  That's  just  the  point  I  raised  and  you 
ignored.  I  claim  that  it's  not  your  duty." 

"  All  part  and  parcel  of  the  same  thing. 
I'm  told  off  to  round  up  those  fellows — what's 
left  of  them — out  at  Colder 's  Green,  and 
incidentally  to  keep  you  out  of  it.  Well, 
what's  it  to  be  ?  You  haven't  answered  my 
question  yet." 

"Oh,  all  right,  put  'em  away,  Harper,  and 
don't  make  a  bigger  damn  fool  of  yourself  than 
you  can  help." 

Harper,    grinning,    complied   with   the    first 
part  of  the  request,  and  commented  on  the  last  : 
'  You  can  give  me  points  there,  Mr.  Denham," 
he  said. 

"  All  this  infernal  fuss,"  growled  Jack, 
"  when  I  have  only  come  up  to  see  Eddy  and 
Mrs.  AUwood.  I  was  going  to  Lennox  Street, 
you  priceless  idiot." 

'  Yes,  via  Golder's  Green.  I  know."  But 
Jack  had  spoken  the  truth.  He  had  meant 
to  go  to  Lennox  Street  that  night  at  any 
rate.  He  had  left  his  revolver  there  for  one 
thing.  It  was  Inspector  Harper  who,  most 
unwittingly,  sent  him  to  Golder's  Green  that 
night,  and  was  the  innocent  cause  of  all  the 
ensuing  trouble.  Jack  resigned  himself  to  the 
inevitable. 


BOLT  VERSUS  BAR  277 

"  Did  Musgrave  tell  the  guard  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Yes,  told  him  to  keep  an  eye  on  you,  and 
look  out  for  me  when  the  train  stopped  here. 
What  on  earth  else  did  you  expect  ?  ' 

"  Well,  I  didn't  reckon  on  Musgrave  being 
so  brainy.  What  are  you  going  to  do  with 
me,  Harper  ?  ' 

"  Oh,  just  run  you  along  to  Lennox  Street," 
was  the  reply.  "  They're  expecting  you." 
And  then,  after  a  pause,  "  What  game  do  you 
reckon  to  be  playing,  Mr.  Denham  ?  ' 

"  I  was  going  out  to  Colder 's  Green  to-morrow, 
damn  you,  "  he  replied. 

"I  thought  so;  well,  I'm  afraid  you  won't 
get  there.  You  will  spend  the  night  in  your 
rooms  and  the  first  thing  in  the  morning  you'll 
be  escorted  by  one  of  my  men  back  to  Treloar. 
And  I  don't  think  you'll  find  it  so  easy  to 
do  another  getaway.  Golder's  Green  is  my 
affair." 

"  Have  you  spotted  the  house  yet  ?  " 

"  No,  but  all  the  roads  are  watched,"  was  the 
reply,  "  and  if  Sullivan  is  thinking  it  wise  to 
make  a  move,  he'll  fall  into  our  arms." 

"  I  can  find  the  way  to  that  house,"  said  Jack. 
After  all  it  was  only  a  matter  of  finding  out 
where  Mr.  Brandscome  lived.  "  I  want  a 
pot  shot  at  dear  old  Jim.  Will  you  let  the  girl 
Molly  go  if  I  take  you  there  ?  '; 

'  When  I  take  them,  I  bag  the  lot,  male  and 
female,"  replied  Harper  dryly.  "  Sentiment 
plays  no  part  in  my  profession." 

"I  always  thought  you  were  an  ass,"  said 


278  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

Jack  in  disgust.  "  I  won't  raise  a  finger  to 
help  you  if  you  hurt  that  girl." 

"  We  can  manage  without  your  help," 
retorted  Harper.  "  And  to  let  you  into  a  little 
secret,  we  are  going  to  try  and  get  on  to  them 
to-night." 

"  Then  you  do  know  where  the  house  is  ?  ''' 
demanded  Jack. 

"  That's  telling,"  was  the  retort. 

For  the  rest  of  the  journey  Jack  was  very 
silent.  This  had  altered  things  considerably, 
and  it  meant  that  he  must  warn  Molly.  Given 
an  opportunity,  and  it  should  be  easy  seeing  that 
Eddy  was  confined  to  his  bed  and  Elise  busily 
occupied  with  him,  he  would  discover  the 
telephone  number  of  Brandscome's  house,  ring 
up,  and  if  Molly  replied  he  would  warn  her, 
and  if  she  was  alone,  go  off  himself  and  help 
to  get  her  away.  That  settled  in  his  mind,  he 
entered  into  a  lengthy  conversation  about 
nothing  to  the  rather  surly  and  extremely  bored 
detective,  who  was  thankful  when  the  train 
drew  up  at  Paddington.  Harper  took  Jack  by 
the  arm. 

"  No  tricks,"  he  said,  and  they  got  out  on  to 
the  platform.  As  they  walked  along  another 
man  came  up  and  joined  them,  walking  on 
Jack's  other  side.  They  passed  a  well-dressed, 
fur-clad  woman  who  stared  hard  at  Jack,  and 
he  grinned,  as  he  thought  of  the  thrilling  story 
she  would  tell  of  her  journey  with  an  escaped 
lunatic  who  had  obviously  been  taken  on  landing 
at  Paddington. 


BOLT  VERSUS  BAR  279 

"  What's  the  joke  ?  "  asked  Harper,  and  when 
Jack  told  him,  he  smiled  and  shrugged  his 
shoulders. 

"  It's  about  time  you  were  shut  up  or 
married,"  was  his  comment. 

"  Do  you  reckon  then,  that  detention  and 
marriage  come  under  the  same  heading  ?  '' 

1  You  want  some  sensible  woman  to  look 
after  you,"  was  the  retort.  "  though  I  admit  I 
pity  the  lady.  Here's  the  car,  so  get  in  and  let's 
get  through  with  this,  my  time's  valuable." 

"  I  didn't  ask  you  to  waste  it  on  me,"  snapped 
Jack  as  he  entered  the  police  car. 

Neither  of  them  noticed  a  woman  pass  by 
as  they  drew  up  outside  the  house  in  Lennox 
Street,  nor  that  she  looked  very  hard  at  them 
and  then  walked  more  quickly  down  the 
street. 

Harper  followed  Jack  upstairs  into  the 
sitting-room  where  Doctor  Watman  and  Elise 
were  seated. 

"  Here  he  is,"  said  the  detective  gruffly, 
"so  I'll  hand  him  over  to  you.  A  man  will 
call  for  him  in  the  morning  and  they'll  take  the 
midday  train  back  to  Treloar,  unless  I  succeed 
in  my  job  to-night,  when  there  won't  be  any 
necessity.  But  I  may  fail,  so  if  he  gives  any 
more  trouble,  ring  me  up  and  I'll  take  him  round 
to  the  station  and  lock  him  up."  He  grinned, 
saluted  and  went. 

"  I  came  up  to  see  Eddy,"  said  Jack,  "  and 
was  met  by  an  escort.  How  is  he  ?  "  And  going 
up  to  Elise,  he  put  his  arms  round  her  and  kissed 


28o  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

her  on  the  lips.  "  You  perfect  wonder,"  he 
said. 

"  And  you  perfect  idiot,"  she  retorted.  The 
doctor  smiled. 

"  Your  brother  is  better,"  he  replied  gravely. 
"It  is  chiefly  exhaustion,  and  a  few  days  in 
bed  with  rest  and  quiet  and  freedom  from 
anxiety,"  here  he  looked  steadily  at  the  young 
man  who  had  the  grace  to  wince,  "will  put  him 
on  his  legs  again.  Elise  is  looking  after  him 
and  I  think  I  can  safely  leave  you  also  in  her 
hands.  I  won't  say  anything  about  your 
escapade  because  I  should  have  done  the  same 
had  I  been  you."  Here  the  old  man  turned  and 
smiled  at  Elise.  "  You  will,  of  course,  reap 
the  reward  of  all  the  trouble  you  have  given 
us  when  you  return  to-morrow.  I  have  written 
Musgrave  instructions." 

"  Oh,  Lord  !  "  said  Jack. 

As  the  door  closed  behind  Doctor  Watman, 
Elise  turned  and  put  her  hands  on  her  lover's 
shoulders." 

'  You  are  a  perfect  disgrace,"  she  said. 

'  Then  the  sooner  you  marry  me  the  better," 
was  the  reply.  "  Harper  says  I  ought  either 
to  be  shut  up  or  married.  Which  is  it  to  be  ?  ' 

"  Apparently  it's  going  to  be  both,"  she  said. 
"And  quite  soon,"  she  added  with  a  blush,  and 
kissed  him. 


CHAPTER  X 

MOLLY   MAKES   GOOD 

HE'S  here  !  '      The  stout  woman  burst 
open    the    door   in    Jim    Sullivan's 
living-room    and    tossed    her    furs 
on  to  the  table. 

"  Who's  here,  Liz  ?  "  asked  the  big  man, 
putting  the  glass  from  which  he  had  been 
drinking,  down  beside  him. 

"  Mr.  Jack  Denham,"  was  the  reply.  "  I 
saw  him  and  that  fool  Harper  both  go  into 
the  house  in  Lennox  Street  as  I  was  passing. 
It  was  just  luck  for  I  hadn't  been  watching." 

"  And  it's  about  time  we  had  some  luck  too," 
replied  the  man  sourly.  "  We've  been  cursed 
ever  since  we  set  eyes  on  that  fellow  Denham. 
But  you  needn't  call  Harper  a  fool,  my  gal. 
He's  very  far  from  being  that.  He's  getting 
on  to  us  and  it's  about  time  we  cleared  out, 
if  we  aren't  too  late  already." 

At  that  moment  Molly,  followed  by  Mike 
and  Appleton,  came  into  the  room.  The  girl's 
face  was  white  and  woebegone,  she  sat  down 
listlessly  and  glanced  furtively  and  with  a 
look  of  fear  in  her  eyes  at  Sullivan. 

'  Your   paramour,    Jack   Denham,   is   back 
281 


282  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

in  Lennox  Street  my  girl/'  he  said,  looking  at 
her  with  narrowed  eyes. 

She  sat  forward  with  a  start,  and  the  colour 
flooded  her  cheeks.  "  He  can't  be,"  she  said, 
"  I  thought  you  said  he  was  in  a  nursing 
home." 

"  /  didn't  say  so,"  he  growled,  "  I  told  you 
that  damned  brother  of  his  said  so.  But  you 
know  more  about  it  than  I  do,  and  one  of  these 
days  I'll  get  the  truth  out  of  you  as  to  what 
really  happened.  That  Boy  Scout  story  never 
did  cut  any  ice  with  me." 

"  That  was  poor  old  Bob's  theory,"  put 
in  Mike,  pulling  at  an  evil  smelling  pipe.  "  It 
was  him  that  swore  he  saw  him  the  day  he  got 
back  from  Nor  man  ton  Hall." 

"  And  so  he  did,  for  I  saw  him  myself,  as  I  have 
told  you  before,"  added  Appleton.  "Geoffrey 
Chadbrook  it  was,  the  same  that  came  barging 
in  to  old  Grundtstein's  studio  that  night  and 
got  Denham  away  from  us.  You  can  bet 
your  life  that  a  sharp  fellow  like  that  followed 
us  up  and  spotted  the  house,  otherwise  as  I've 
said  all  along,  how  came  that  woman  here 
after  Captain  Denham  ?  How  did  she  know 
where  to  come  ?  ' 

Jim  Sullivan  looked  across  at  Molly  and 
smiled  ;  it  was  a  particularly  repulsive  smile, 
and  one  that  she  knew  well.  Her  trembling 
hands  suddenly  clutched  at  her  chair. 

"  Geoffrey  Chadbrook,"  repeated  Sullivan, 
slowly,  while  his  voice  took  on  a  harsh 
jarring  note.  "  Geoffrey  Chadbrook — nothing ! 


MOLLY  MAKES  GOOD  283 

There's  only  one  person  who  could  have  given 
us  away,  and  that's  a  woman.  A  woman," 
he  repeated,  "who's  goingto  get  what's  coming 
to  her,  and  that  very  soon.  If  I  hadn't  been 
forced  to  hide  from  the  cursed  police  as  I  have 
done,  she'd  have  got  it  before  this.  Now, 
Molly,  my  gal,"  his  voice  was  a  sudden  bark, 
"  out  with  it." 

"It's  a  lie,"  cried  the  girl,  desperately,  "  I 
never  gave  you  away,  I  wouldn't  be  such  a 
fool.  I  don't  want  to  be  taken,  and  if  they 
take  you  they'll  take  me." 

"  Will  they  ?  "  retorted  Sullivan.  "  Then  why 
haven't  they  come  and  done  it  by  now  ?  I'll 
tell  you  why,"  he  leant  forward  and  tapped 
his  knee  with  every  word.  "  Because  you 
made  a  bargain  that  if  you  helped  to  free  the 
captain,  they  must  swear  not  to  give  us  away 
to  the  police.  Otherwise,  why  haven't  the 
police  been  here  before  ?  Tell  me  that.  They're 
round  here  looking  for  us  because  what  old 
Bob  said  was  true  ;  that  Chadbrook  boy  did 
trace  him  as  far  as  Golder's  Green  Station, 
but  no  farther.  That's  why  the  police  aren't 
sure.  If  they  were,  they'd  be  here  now." 

"  They've  been  three  times,"  put  in  Lizzie, 
with  a  chuckle.  "  But  only  found  a  toothless 
old  caretaker,  and  had  to  clear  off  with  their 
tails  between  their  legs.  It's  a  pity  I  never 
went  on  the  stage,  I'd  have  made  a  pile." 

'  You'll  make  a  bigger  one  if  you  stick  to 
me,"  said  Sullivan.  "  I  see  now  where  I've 
been  a  fool,  but  if  we  get  clear  out  of  this 


284  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

and  can  start  fresh,  I'll  see  I  don't  repeat  my 
mistake."  Suddenly  he  rose,  strode  across 
to  where  Molly  was  seated,  huddled  miserably 
in  a  chair,  and  caught  hold  of  her  wrist.  "  Now 
then,"  he  snarled.  "  We're  going  to  have  the 
truth." 

"I've  told  you  the  truth,  Jim.   I  never " 

He  struck  her  across  the  mouth  with  the  back 
of  his  hand. 

"  Steady,  man,  steady,"  muttered  Mike 
frowning. 

"  You  mind  your  own  damned  business." 
Sullivan  glared  at  him  malevolently  and  the 
other  shrugged  and  turned  away. 

"  Now,"  went  on  Sullivan,  towering  over 
the  cowering  girl,  "  I'll  have  the  truth,  and 
the  sooner  you  tell  it  the  better  for  you.  Was 
it  you  who  gave  this  place  away,  or  was  it 
young  Chadbrook  who  found  it  out  ?  Better 
answer,  I'll  get  it  in  the  end."  He  gave  her 
wrist  a  savage  twist,  and  she  screamed 
piteously. 

"  Oh,  Jim  !     Don't  hurt  me,"  she  cried. 

"  I  haven't  begun  to  hurt  you  yet,"  he 
retorted.  '  When  I  do  you'll  know  it.  Now 
once  more,  answer ;  was  it  you  or  the 
Scout  ?  ' 

A  moment's  silence,  a  sudden  movement 
from  Jim  Sullivan,  and  Molly  was  writhing 
on  the  floor,  screaming  in  agony. 

"Don't,  don't!  Oh,  Jim,  I'll  tell !— I'll 
— let  go  !  Mike  !  Stop  him.  I  can't — can't 
"  Her  voice  sank  to  a  low  moan  ;  Lizzie 


MOLLY  MAKES  GOOD  285 

put  her  hands  to  her  ears,  and  Mike  sprang 
to  his  feet. 

"  Stop  that,   Sullivan,   or  by  God,   I'll— I'll 
i> 

"  You'll  what  ?  '  asked  the  other  turning 
as  he  flung  the  girl  from  him.  '  You'll  sit 
down,  you  fool,  and  you'll  hold  your  tongue 
or  I'll  let  daylight  into  you."  He  glared  at 
the  man,  who  met  his  eyes  for  a  moment, 
and  then  once  more,  with  a  shrug,  dropped  into 
his  seat. 

"  Now,  out  with  it,"  said  Sullivan,  turning  on 
the  sobbing  girl,  "  or  you'll  get  another  dose." 
He  bent  down  and  stretched  out  a  hand. 

"No,  no  !  "  she  screamed.  "  Not  again  ! 
I'll  tell  you.  I — 'phoned  to  him,  to  Jack — 
he  couldn't  come — he — he  sent  that  woman — 
the  one  I  told  you  about,  and  she  got  his 
brother  away." 

There  was  a  whistle  from  Applet  on,  and  a 
sardonic  laugh  from  Lizzie. 

"  You  always  were  a  fool  over  a  pretty  face, 
Jim,"  she  sneered,  "  and  now  you  see  what 
you  get." 

"  Hold  your  damned  tongue,"  he  snapped, 
and  then  once  more  turning  to  the  girl.  "  So 
Jack  Denham  knows,  and  that  woman  knows. 
Then  why  haven't  the  police  been  on  to  us 
by  now  ?  ' 

"  They  promised  not  to  give  us  away,"  she 
said,  weakly. 

"  Promised  !  Hell !  "  he  retorted.  "  And 
already  he's  killed  two  of  my  men,  and  for 


286  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

all  we  know  he  was  a  party  to  the  killing  of 
Bob  Vincent.  And  you  trust  his  promise ! 
You  risk  our  lives,  our  liberties,  on  the  word 
of  that  man  ?  " 

"Oh,  yes,  yes  !  "  she  cried.  "  Can't  you 
see  ?  He's  kept  his  word,  or  the  police  would 
have  been  here.  You  can  trust  him.  If  I 
hadn't  known  that,  do  you  think  I  would  have 
told  him  anything  ?  I  know.  Oh,  I  know, 
he  wouldn't  let  them  take  me." 

"  Take  you !  "  the  words  were  like  a  whip 
lash.  "  Who  in  hell  cares  what  happens  to 
you  ?  If  we  get  away  from  here,  I'll  see  you 
pay  for  your  treachery  for  the  rest  of  your 
natural.  Curse  you !  ';  He  raised  one  foot 
and  Molly  cowered  back.  But  at  that  Apple- 
ton  interfered. 

"  Stop,  Jim,"  he  said  quietly.  "  This  has 
given  me  an  idea."  He  came  a  step  forward 
and  put  himself  between  Sullivan  and  the 
girl  who  scrambled  to  her  feet  and  backed 
into  a  corner  of  the  room,  her  face  distorted 
with  fear. 

'  Well,  what's  the  bright  idea  ?  "  demanded 
Sullivan,  angrily. 

"  Sit  down  and  leave  the  girl  alone,  and 
I'll  tell  you,"  was  the  reply.  "  The  mischief's 
done  now,  you  won't  help  matters  by  rough 
handling  her.  She's  had  some  of  her  medicine 
and  the  rest  will  come  later,  when  we  get  hold 
of  that  fellow  Denham." 

"  As  how  ?  "  demanded  Sullivan,  but  he 
sat  down. 


MOLLY  MAKES  GOOD  287 

"  I'll  tell  you.  Lizzie  saw  him  a  little 
while  back  with  Harper.  Well,  we  know  now 
that  he  couldn't  come  to  his  brother's  rescue, 
which  meant  he  was  detained  somewhere, 
probably  in  the  nursing  home  the  brother 
mentioned.  And  now  he's  here  in  London. 
What  does  that  mean  ?  ' 

"  Search  me,"  sneered  Sullivan. 

"  Harper  had  him  by  the  arm,"  volunteered 
Lizzie. 

"  Exactly,"  said  Appleton.  "  Denham  had 
got  away  and  was  probably  caught  by  the 
'tec  on  his  arrival  here.  But  why  had  he 
come  ?  " 

"  Once  more  you  can  search  me,"  said  Sulli- 
van, disagreeably. 

"  Well,  it's  my  belief  he  came  to  warn  our 
Moll  that  Harper  was  on  our  tracks.  He'd 
know  that  while  he  was  shut  up  Harper  would 
do  his  damnedest  to  round  us  up,  so  he  made 
a  getaway,  only  bungled  it,  as  he  would.  He's 
probably  staying  at  his  rooms  for  the  night 
and  will  likely  be  bundled  back  to  the  nursing 
home  in  the  morning.  Well,  now's  our  chance 
to  get  him,  don't  you  see  ?  ' 

"  'Fraid  I  don't,"  retorted  Sullivan.  "  My 
brain  never  was  equal  to  yours,  Alec." 

"I  see,"  exclaimed  Lizzie.  "  He  means  for 
Moll  to  ring  him  up  on  the  'phone  and  ask 
him  to  come  and  help  get  her  away.  That's 
the  game,  ain't  it,  Alec?  '  Sullivan  sprang  to 
his  feet. 

"  By  God  !  "  he  said.     "  It's  the  goods  !  " 


288  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

Then,  after  a  pause,  "  There's  only  one  thing 
strikes  me  about  it,  which  is,  that  if  he's  here 
to  warn  the  girl  he'll  probably  ring  up  on  his 
own  account." 

"  More  than  likely,"  Appleton  agreed,  and 
glanced  at  the  clock.  "  Nearly  nine.  If  he 
doesn't  do  it  soon  we  shall  have  to  call  upon 
our  Moll." 

"  You  don't  suppose,"  said  the  girl,  sud- 
denly grown  very  quiet  and  calm,  "  that  I'd 
do  that,  do  you  ?  ' 

"  I  think  you  will,"  retorted  Sullivan,  grimly. 

"  Never,"  she  said.  "  Never  !  You  can  kill 
me,  but  I  won't  do  that." 

"  You  didn't  seem  to  like  being  hurt  a 
minute  ago,"  sneered  the  big  man.  '  Well, 
that's  nothing  to  what  you  will  get  my 
girl." 

"I'll  stand  anything  you  like  to  do  to  me," 
she  replied,  fiercely  ;  "  but  I  won't  bring 
Jack  here  to  be  butchered,  and  that's  flat. 
You  can  torture  or  do  what  you  like  to  me, 
Jim  Sullivan ;  but  I  won't  be  the  means  of 
getting  that  boy  here  for  you  to  kill."  She 
stared  at  him,  defiance  in  her  eyes.  Where- 
upon he  strode  across  to  her,  struck  her  across 
the  face,  and  called  her  by  a  foul  name. 

"  Steady,  Jim,"  said  Mike.  "  No  more  of 
that." 

"  Look  here,"  put  in  the  stout  woman. 
"  Never  mind  about  the  girl,  she's  more  trouble 
than  she's  worth.  My  voice  is  fairly  like 
hers  and,  anyway,  I  can  imitate  it  well  enough 


MOLLY   MAKES   GOOD  289 

to  pass  across  the  'phone.  I'll  do  the  speaking 
and  get  him  here,  you  trust  me." 

"  Good  idea,"  said  Appleton.  "  Give  him 
till  nine  o'clock,  and  if  there's  no  sign  of  him 
by  then  Liz  had  better  ring  him  up  and  put 
a  tale  across  the  line  about  Moll  and  her  troubles, 
that'll  fetch  him." 

"  And  if  you  11  take  my  tip,"  put  in  Mike, 
who  had  been  a  silent  and  frowning  listener, 
"  you'll  can  the  Denham  stunt  and  get  out 
while  there's  good  going." 

Sullivan  looked  at  the  speaker  contemp- 
tuously. 

"  If  you're  suffering  from  cold  feet  you  can 
get  out  right  now,"  he  said,  coldly.  "  This 
is  my  one  great  chance.  You  others  have 
systematically  bungled  all  your  chances  as 
they  came  along,  so  now  it's  left  to  me,  and 
when  I've  got  that  Denham  fixed  I'll  go  and 
not  before,"  and,  turning  his  back  to  the 
others,  he  sat  there  with  his  eyes  on  the 
clock. 

Only  once  until  the  telephone  bell  rang 
was  the  silence  broken,  and  that  by  Molly  who, 
as  she  realised  what  the  inevitable  end  of  this 
must  be,  went  over  to  Jim  Sullivan  and  dropped 
on  her  knees  beside  him. 

"  Jim,  don't  do  this.  Don't  !  It's  murder. 

Jim,  listen  to  me "  But  breaking  in  on 

her  agonised  entreaty,  there  came  the  sharp 
ring  of  the  looked  for  bell,  and  she  screamed. 

"  Get  hold  of  that  girl,  Alec,  and  shut  her 
mouth,"  cried  Sullivan.  Lizzie  ran  to  the 


290  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

'phone,  and  Applet  on,  taking  up  a  small  table 
cover,  flung  it  over  the  girl's  head  and 
held  it. 

The  voice  speaking  at  the  telephone  was 
remarkably  like  Molly's,  so  like  that  Jim 
Sullivan  smiled  broadly,  as  he  listened. 

"  Yes,  who  is  speaking  ?  Oh,  Jack,  why 
are  you  here  ?  What  is  it  ?  In  danger  do 
you  say  ?  To-night  ?  Oh,  please  come  and 
help  me.  I'm  all  alone.  They're  out,  yes, 
won't  be  in  for  hours.  You  can  help  me 
get  away  before  they  come  back.  You  will  ? 
Oh,  you  are  brave.  Yes,  I  have  a  friend  in 
Yorkshire,  I'll  go  there.  Yes,  yes,  I'll  leave 
the  kitchen  window  open,  only  look  out  for 
the  dog.  Jim  leaves  him  loose  in  the  garden, 
and  I  daren't  go  outside.  Yes,  I'll  be  ready." 
She  put  down  the  receiver  and  turned  to  the 
others. 

"  He's  coming,"  she  said,  "in  his  own  car. 
Should  be  here  in  about  half  an  hour.  Better 
turn  all  lights  out  and  shut  the  dog  up." 

"  That's  it,"  agreed  Sullivan,  with  a  grin. 
"  You,  Alec,  and  I  will  stand  on  each  side  of 
this  door.  When  he  comes  in,  grab  him  and 
take  his  gun." 

Applet  on  nodded  and  uncovered  the  girl's 
head. 

"Oh,  you  vile,  wicked  beasts  !  "  she  cried, 
panting  and  half  smothered. 

"  Shut  your  mouth,  fool !  You'll  do  no  good 
by  that,"  growled  Sullivan.  "  I  tell  you  what," 
he  went  on  savagely,  turning  to  the  others. 


MOLLY  MAKES  GOOD  291 

"I'm  sick  of  all  this,  and  I'm  going  to  leave 
that  girl  here  for  the  police  to  take  when  they 
come.  She  can  stay  down  in  the  cellar  and 
keep  her  dead  lover  company." 

"  Isn't  that  going  a  bit  too  far  ?  "  objected 
Mike. 

"  Say  another  word  and  I'll  leave  you  there 
too,"  snarled  Sullivan.  They  waited.  Only 
the  ticking  of  the  clock,  and  once  a  strangled 
sob  from  Molly  broke  the  dead  silence  of  that 
room. 

And  then,  as  Sullivan  rose  and  turned  out 
the  lights,  Mike  suddenly  spoke. 

"  Funny  if  Harper  turned  up  instead  of 
Denham,"  he  said. 

"  Stow  it,  you  fool ! "  retorted  Lizzie,  who 
had  started  at  the  suggestion.  "  Frightening 
us  all  for  nothing.  It  was  Denham  who  spoke 
to  me  over  the  'phone,  I  know  his  voice." 

"  Well,  keep  that  girl  quiet,  Liz,"  said  Sulli- 
van, "  or  she'll  try  and  warn  him." 

"  Right  you  are."  Not  a  sound  ;  if  Jack 
Denham  had  come  he  had  come  very  quietly. 
Ten  more  minutes  passed,  and  then  there 
came  a  faint  noise  from  somewhere  in  the 
house,  a  footstep,  a  hand  feeling  the  door, 
and  then  a  voice  out  in  the  passage. 

"  Molly  !  " 

"  Here,"  answered  Lizzie  softly,  ramming 
her  hand  over  the  girl's  mouth.  The  handle 
of  the  door  turned.  A  flash  of  light  struck 
across  the  room.  The  next  instant  there  was 
the  sound  of  a  struggle,  a  man's  voice  cursing. 


292  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

The  flashlight  was  dropped  with  a  crash  on 
the  ground,  and  Jim  Sullivan  called  out. 

"  Got  him  !  Turn  on  the  light."  There 
was  a  click,  and  there,  held  firmly  between  the 
two  men,  with  his  back  against  the  wall,  was 
Jack  Denham.  He  had  ceased  to  struggle, 
knowing  the  futility  of  it,  and  turning  his 
head,  glanced  round  the  room.  Molly  was 
standing,  wide-eyed,  white-faced,  staring  at 
him.  He  smiled. 

"  So  that's  that,"  he  said. 

The  two  men  dragged  him  further  into  the 
room,  and  Sullivan  took  his  revolver  and  flung 
it  on  the  table. 

"  Got  you  this  time,  Mr.  Jack  Denham," 
he  said  with  a  chuckle. 

"  It  rather  looks  like  it,  don't  it,  my  one 
and  only  Jim.  And  our  Molly  the  decoy  once 
more.  Oh,  what  a  game." 

"  I  didn't-  began  the  girl,  but  Jack 

interrupted  her. 

"  Quite  an  exciting  drama  of  real  and  true 
life  entitled  '  Face  to  Face  at  Last  '  or  '  The 
Villain's  Revenge  '.  Wonderful !  Mr.  Apple- 
ton,  you  are  hurting  my  arm,  which  isn't  done. 
In  the  Best  Circles,  the  helpless  prisoner  is 
never  hurt." 

"  Indeed,  it  was  not  I,  boy "  cried 

Molly,  but  this  time  Sullivan  interrupted  her 
with  an  oath. 

"  Shut  your  mouth,  you !  " 

'  Tut,  tut,  Jim.  That's  beastly  rude,"  said 
Jack.  "I'm  not  used  to  that  sort  of  language." 


MOLLY  MAKES  GOOD  293 

"  I  think  it's  only  right  and  fair  to  tell  you," 
broke  in  Mike,  "  that  the  girl  didn't  speak  to 
you  over  the  'phone.  It  was  Liz  who  imitated 
her  voice." 

"  Thanks  Mike,  you're  a  stout  fellow,"  said 
Jack.  "  I'll  put  in  a  good  word  for  you  to 
Harper  when  he  comes." 

"  You'll  be  cold  mutton  long  before  that," 
sneered  Sullivan. 

"  No,  no,"  said  Jack.  "  Pork,  my  dear 
fellow,  pork.  At  least  that's  what  I  under- 
stand we  resemble  most  when  defunct  and 
cooked.  His  Satanic  Majesty  will  get  quite 
a  good  cut  off  the  joint  when  you  go  down, 
Jim,  or  will  he  prefer  pie  ?  ' 

"  Very  funny,  Mr.  Denham,"  growled  the 
other.  "  But  I  rather  fancy  I've  got  some- 
thing in  store  for  you  that  will  alter  your 
tone  a  bit." 

"  All  right,  old  man,  then  don't  keep  me 
standing  here  too  long,  I'm  tired,"  he  yawned. 

"  Bring  him  along,  Alec.  The  sooner  we 
start  the  more  time  I  shall  have  for  enjoying 
myself.  I  don't  want  to  have  to  kill  him  off 
too  soon." 

"  What  ?  Is  it  the  little  torture  chamber 
at  last  ?  "  asked  Jack,  as  he  was  dragged  to- 
wards the  trap-door. 

"Oh,  Jim!  Don't  do  it,  Jim !  "  cried 
Molly,  desperately. 

"  Keep  her  quiet,  Liz.  When  we're  ready 
she  can  come  down  and  look  at  him." 

"  Don't  bother  about  me,  old  girl,"  called 


294  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

out  Jack.  "  You're  true  steel.  I'll  kill  Harper 
if  he  touches  you."  And  then  he  found  him- 
self stumbling  down  wooden  steps  into  dark- 
ness. Someone  brought  down  a  lamp,  and  he 
saw  it  was  Mike. 

"  You  in   this   too,   Mike  ?  "   he   said.     "  I 
thought    better    of    you."    The    man    didn't 
answer,  and  Jack  looked  round. 

"  I  fail  to  observe  the  usual  perquisites  that 
go  to  complete  the  furnishing  of  this  especial 
department,"  he  said,  in  a  disappointed  tone 
of  voice.  "  Haven't  you  even  got  a  rack, 
my  one  and  only  Jim  ?  I'm  sure  they've 
got  one  at  the  Tower,  and  Alf,  before  he  joined 
the  Saints,  could  easily  have  pinched  it  for 
you." 

"  I've  got  something  that  will  do  just  as 
well,"  was  the  reply,  "something  of  my  own 
invention.  Take  off  his  coat,  waistcoat  and 
collar,  Alec." 

"  Do  you  mean  it's  really  something  you 
thought  out  all  by  your  little  self  ?  "  asked 
Jack,  as  Appleton  tore  his  jacket  off.  "  Then, 
by  Jove  !  I  should  think  it's  likely  to  put 
rack,  boot,  and  all  the  other  pleasant  little 
things  right  in  the  shade.  Alec  Appleton," 
he  went  on,  sternly,  "  don't  be  so  rough, 
this  is  my  best  suit  and  you'll  pull  it  out  of 
shape." 

"  Come  on  over  here,"  said  Jim  Sullivan, 
taking  one  arm,  while  Appleton  took  the  other. 

"  Never  !  "  said  Jack,  suddenly  struggling 
hard. 


MOLLY  MAKES  GOOD  295 

"  What's  the  use  ?  "  said  Appleton.  "  You'll 
want  all  the  breath  you  can  save  later  on." 
They  practically  carried  him  across  the  room, 
and  pushed  him  with  his  back  against  the 
wall. 

"  Now  off  with  his  boots,  and  then  the  collar 
first,  that  will  settle  him,"  said  Sullivan.  '  Up 
on  your  toes,  man,  or  you'll  choke."  They 
forced  him  up  and  fastened  the  broad  leather 
with  its  jagged  edges  round  his  throat.  He 
choked,  cursed,  and  stood  up  on  tiptoe  to 
their  fullest  extent,  which  he  well  knew  would 
mean  intolerable  agony  to  his  muscles  in  a 
very  short  time,  and  yet  if  he  should  try  to 
relieve  the  strain,  not  only  would  there  be  the 
danger  of  choking,  but  the  rough  edges  of  the 
stiff  leather  would  cut  into  his  neck.  Then 
wrists  were  made  fast  to  rings  in  the  wall. 

"  I  can't  stand  like  this  for  long,  you  cowardly 
brute,"  he  said. 

'  You'll  stand  like  it  for  as  long  as  you  want 
to  live,"  was  the  retort.  Then  Sullivan  drew 
a  broad  leather  strap  round  his  chest  and 
buckled  it.  But  it  did  not  help  to  relieve  the 
strain  on  his  ankles,  for  the  chain  that  held 
it  to  the  wall  was  three  inches  long. 

'  You'll  break  my  ribs,  damn  you,"  said 
Jack. 

"  I  think  not,"  was  the  reply,  and  another 
strap  went  round  his  waist. 

"  Don't  cut  him  in  two  quite,"  said  Apple- 
ton,  as  Sullivan  buckled  it. 

"  I  know  what  I'm  doing,"  was  the  reply. 


296  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  Well,  is  that  nice  and  comiy  ?  "  he  went 
on,  turning  to  his  victim.  "  My  turn  for  the 
witty  repartee,  I  think.  Don't  feel  so  like  it 
now,  do  you  ?  ' 

"  How  —  long  —  do  —  you  —  suppose  — 
I'll  —  last  —  like  —  this—  ?  "  asked  Jack, 
drawing  his  breath  in  quick  short  gasps. 
Already  the  strain  on  the  muscles  of  his  legs 
was  torture.  His  face  went  suddenly  white, 
and  beads  of  perspiration  started  out  on  his 
forehead.  He  turned  his  aching  neck,  scratching 
the  flesh  on  the  jagged  edges  of  the  leather, 
and  looked  at  Mike. 

"  Put — a — bullet — into — me — "  he  said. 

"  I've  a  good  mind  to,"  was  the  reply.  "  This 
is  a  bit  more  than  /  can  stomach,  Jim." 

'  Then  get  out  of  it,"  was  the  reply,  and  Mike 
looked  into  the  muzzle  of  a  revolver.  With  a 
shrug,  he  went  up  the  wooden  stairs. 

"  Didn't  know  it  would  be  quite  as  bad  as 
that,  did  you  ?  "  said  Sullivan,  grinning,  and 
he  sat  down  on  a  chair  and  regarded  his  victim 
complacently.  It  was  not  a  pleasant  sight, 
and  after  five  minutes  of  it,  Appleton,  who 
had  never  liked  the  idea  from  the  first,  put 
his  thoughts  and  feelings  into  a  few  choice 
and  forceful  sentences. 

'  Well,"  retorted  Sullivan,  "  you  know  the 
remedy,"  he  pointed  to  the  wooden  stairs. 

"If  he  dies  we  shall  all  hang  for  murder," 
growled  Appleton. 

"  He's  going  to  die,"  was  the  reply.  "  But 
you  are  wrong  about  the  hanging.  "  We  get 


MOLLY  MAKES  GOOD  297 

away  to-night.  Gnindtstein's  little  boat  is 
ready  and  waiting  wdth  Grundtstein  himself 
on  board,  and  our  future  spiritual  home  lies 
in  Germany.  There  are  only  four  of  us  left, 
it's  true,  but  we're  worth  saving.  Ah  well, 
if  you  must  tear  yourself  away,  bring  me  down 
a  drink.  This  fellow's  contortions  is  making  me 
thirsty." 

He  sat  there  for  half  an  hour,  sipping  his 
drink  and  watching  the  tortured  man,  in  a 
kind  of  silent  ecstasy.  Neither  spoke;  Sulli- 
van, because  he  knew  that  abusive  words 
would  be  thrown  away  on  a  man  who  was 
almost  beyond  hearing  them  ;  Jack  Denham, 
because  all  his  energy  was  concentrated  on 
keeping  alive  until  Harper  came  and  words 
would  but  waste  his  hardly  fought  for  breath. 

At  length  Sullivan  rose  and  went  to  the 
ladder.  At  the  foot  he  paused  and  looked 
back. 

"I'm  now  going  to  have  a  look  round," 
he  said,  "  and  if  the  coast  is  clear  I  shall  have 
an  hour  or  two's  sleep.  But  before  we  go  I 
promise  you  I'll  come  down  and  put  you  out 
of  your  misery." 

'  You're — not — worth — cursing,"  said  Jack, 
at  last,  and  Sullivan  laughed  and  went  up  the 
ladder. 

"  My  God  !  "  groaned  Jack  Denham,  and 
wondered  how  long  he  could  stand  it.  Would 
Harper  never  come  ?  What  had  happened  to 
prevent  him  ?  Perhaps  he  had  failed  in  his 
search,  or  perhaps  after  all  he  would  not  try 


298  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

to-night  .  .  .  might  have  other  duties,  any- 
thing might  have  happened.  His  thoughts 
ran  riot.  Would  Elise  wait  up  for  him  ?  He 
had  told  her  he  was  going  to  a  night  club 
and  would  be  back  late.  She  had  believed 
him  too,  for,  though  she  had  tried  to  conceal 
her  chagrin,  she  had  not  succeeded.  Would 
she  sit  up  for  him  ?  And  if  he  didn't  come 
would  she  guess  where  he  had  really  gone  and 
send  for  Harper  ?  But  if  Harper  couldn't  come  ! 
God,  what  a  thought  !  Perhaps  Molly  could 
help  him.  But  no,  not  this  time.  Years  of 
agony,  or  could  it  only  be  hours,  passed  ? 
The  lamp  was  still  burning  on  the  table,  but 
very  dim  now,  and  even  as  he  watched  it,  it 
flickered  and  went  out.  There  was  no  sound 
above,  no  ease  for  his  tortured  muscles,  aching 
neck,  and  bruised  body.  A  deadly  nausea 
overcame  him,  and  he  knew  that  if  he  col- 
lapsed now  he  would  strangle,  and  there  was 
no  one  to  help  him. 

"  Oh,  Molly,  Molly  !  "  he  groaned. 

"  Hush !  "  said  a  voice  overhead.  "I'm 
coming."  Steps  came  down  the  ladder,  sound- 
ing far  off  and  muffled.  It  could  not  have 
been  Molly  really;  it  was  a  dream,  an  hallucina- 
tion. ...  A  faint  light  flashed  across  him, 
and  he  heard  a  strangled  cry. 

"  Oh  !  Those  devils  !  "  And  someone  was 
tugging  at  the  straps  round  his  body. 

"Collar — first — '"  he  gasped.  Then  hands 
were  at  his  neck.  Deep,  hissing  breaths  sounded 
in  his  ear  as  the  tiny  fingers  tore  at  the  three 


MOLLY  MAKES  GOOD  299 

buckles.  At  last,  with  a  groan,  his  head  fell 
forward,  and  his  heels  went  down  upon  the  floor. 
A  dull  droning  sounded  in  his  ears,  perspiration 
fell  in  drops  upon  his  shirt.  Once  more  fingers 
were  at  the  buckle  that  was  gnawing  a  hole  in 
his  ribs,  or  so  it  seemed  to  him,  and  then  there 
came  a  blinding  flash  of  light,  and  above 
the  droning  in  his  ears  he  heard  the  sound 
of  Jim  Sullivan's  voice  from  the  trap-door 
above. 

"  At  your  tricks  again,  are  you  ?  "  With 
an  effort  Jack  raised  his  head  and  was  aware 
of  a  figure  kneeling  in  the  opening.  Heard 
someone  calling  in  the  distance  :  "  Jim  !  Jim 
Sullivan  !  Come  quick  !  " 

"Go  to  hell !  "  was  the  reply,  the  voice 
was  that  of  a  man  fuddled  with  drink,  and  he 
raised  a  heavy  revolver. 

"  Get  out  of  range,  Molly,"  cried  Jack, 
desperately.  "He's  going  to  shoot !  "  But 
Molly  never  moved,  and  as  a  shot  rang  out 
she  gave  a  strangled  cry  and  fell  forward 
against  Jack's  helpless  body.  Someone  dragged 
Sullivan  away,  and  Molly  sank  down  upon  the 
floor. 

"Oh,  Molly,  Molly!"  groaned  Jack. 
'  You're  hurt,  and  I  can't  help  you.  And 
it  was  for  me,  you  dear,  brave  soul !  Oh, 
God  !  If  I  could  only  help  you  !  "  He  tore 
and  strained  at  the  lashings  that  held  his  wrists 
until  the  blood  came,  but  without  avail. 

Molly  raised  herself  on  her  hands  and  looked 
up  at  him.  By  the  light  of  the  torch  which 


300  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

still  glowed  on  the  table  where  she  had  placed 
it,  he  saw  that  her  face  was  ashen. 

"  I — think — I'm — dying,"    she    muttered. 

"  And  for  me !  "  He  groaned,  and  bent 
forward  as  far  as  his  bonds  would  let  him, 
to  see  her  face.  Molly  tried  to  smile,  and  then, 
with  a  supreme  effort,  and  thinking  only  of 
him,  she  dragged  herself  to  her  knees.  Jack 
felt  clawing  fingers  at  his  legs,  then  at  the  strap 
about  his  waist. 

"  I  can't,"  she  said.  "  I've  no  strength — 
and — I  wanted  to  set  you  free — before — I  go. 
You're — in  pain." 

"Oh,  never  mind  about  me,"  he  cried, 
bitterly.  "  Molly,  girl,  if  you  can — your  lips 
He  strained  forward,  the  clawing  hands 
were  about  his  body,  chest,  then  his  shoulders. 
The  grey  drawn  face  was  close  to  his  at  last. 
The  clutching  hands  were  round  his  neck, 
he  bent  his  head  and,  once  more,  as  when  he 
lay  helpless  in  that  house  in  Chelsea,  her  lips 
were  pressed  to  his.  Only  then  they  had  been 
warm,  now  there  was  the  icy  touch  of  death 
upon  them. 

"  I — love — you — ,  boy."  The  cold  hands 
relaxed  their  grip.  She  fell  in  a  crumpled  heap 
at  his  feet. 


Elise  Allwood  glanced  at  the  clock.  It 
was  after  twelve,  and  she  wondered  how  much 
longer  Jack  would  be.  Of  course  he  deserved 
a  bit  of  fun  after  being  cooped  up  in  that 


MOLLY  MAKES   GOOD  301 

garden  all  these  weeks — but  still  ...  he 
might  perhaps  have  stayed  with  her  that 
night.  .  .  .  No,  that  was  merely  selfish, 
and  she  was  being  a  cat,  a  species  of  female 
that  she  particularly  loathed.  Of  course,  he 
wanted  a  spree  ;  he  was  to  go  back  the  next 
day,  and  naturally  he  must  have  a  fling  and  it 
was  not  likely  he  would  get  another  chance 
for  some  time,  unless,  of  course,  Harper  was 
successful  to-night.  But  if  not,  well,  it  meant 
Treloar  again,  and — perhaps  their  honeymoon 
there ;  she  wanted  it  there,  she  loved  the  place. 
There,  for  the  first  time  for  years  she  had  been 
happy,  and  there  she  had  met  Jack ;  and  in 
the  meantime  she  was  very  tired  and  wished 
the  young  reprobate  would  come  back. 

She  lay  back  in  her  chair,  and  closed  her 
eyes.  Dancing,  she  supposed,  a  harmless  amuse- 
ment— but,  still . 

She  awoke  with  a  start,  and  saw  that  it  was 
nearly  two  o'clock  and  no  sign  of  Jack.  She 
got  quickly  to  her  feet.  What  had  happened  ? 
Surely  he  would  not  stay  up  as  late  as  that, 
knowing  that  his  return  would  probably  wake 
Eddy  ?  Of  course  not ;  then  what  did  it  mean  ? 

Had  he  gone  to  a  night  club  or .  A  horrible 

idea  suddenly  occurred  to  her.  Had  he,  after 
all  not  gone  to  a  club  at  all,  and  was  his  journey 
up  here  not  for  the  object  of  ascertaining  how 
his  brother  was,  and  seeing  her  ?  If  so,  there 
was  only  one  other  motive  that  would  bring 
him  ;  a  visit  to  Colder 's  Green.  She  remem- 
bered now,  that  she  thought  she  had  heard 


302        THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

him  speaking  down  the  telephone,  and  yet  it 
might  have  been  to  young  Jenkins,  but  she 
had  only  heard  Jack's  voice.  What  should 
she  do  ?  Mrs.  Jenkins  was  asleep  on  the 
sofa  in  her  room  in  case  she  should  be  wanted  ; 
Jenkins  upstairs.  It  was  of  no  use  to  wake 
them,  the  old  woman  would  only  lose  her  head 
and  be  worse  than  useless;  her  son  was,  she 
thought,  of  not  much  use  in  an  emergency. 
Harper  was  her  only  hope  ;  but  then  Harper 
had  said  he  was  going  to  Colder 's  Green.  If 
he  had  gone  and  been  successful  in  his  quest, 
then  she  had  nothing  to  fear  as  regards  Jack. 
But  if  he  had  not  gone.  .  .  .  She  ran  to 
the  'phone  in  a  panic,  and  rang  up  Scotland 
Yard. 

"  Is  Inspector  Harper  there  ?  "  she  asked. 
He  was  not,  but  was  expected  in  at  any  moment. 
No,  he  had  not  gone  after  that  especial  gang ; 
had  been  put  on  to  something  special  and 
urgent.  Yes,  he  should  be  told  at  once  and 
sent  round. 

"  And  tell  him  to  bring  some  men  with  him," 
said  Elise.  "  Tell  him  Mr.  Denham  went  out 
just  after  nine,  and  isn't  home  yet,  say  I'm 
terribly  anxious." 

For  twenty  minutes  she  paced  up  and  down 
the  sitting-room,  a  prey  to  torturing  anxiety. 
Why  had  she  been  such  a  fool  as  to  let  him  go  ? 
She  could  have  stopped  him,  told  him  Eddy 
was  worse  than  he  really  was.  Anything  she 
had  said  would  have  kept  him  there.  And 
now,  what  had  happened  ?  He  might  be 


MOLLY  MAKES  GOOD  303 

caught  by  those  devils,  he  might  even  be  dead 
now. 

"  Oh  !  "  she  cried,  in  an  agony  of  fear.  "  Not 
that  !  Not  that  !  I  can't  lose  him  !  "  And 
then  she  heard  a  car  stop  at  the  door,  and  flew 
downstairs  to  open  it.  A  tall  figure  brushed 
past  her. 

"  What's  the  trouble  now?  "  asked  Inspector 
Harper. 

"  Jack  went  out  at  nine  and  hasn't  returned," 
she  began. 

"  Well,  if  you  let  him  go  out  you  mustn't 
be  surprised,"  was  the  unsympathetic  retort. 
"  Didn't  say  where,  I  suppose  ?  But  if  he 
had  it  wouldn't  be  the  right  address.  I 
couldn't  get  there  myself,  special  job  on,  so 
promised  myself  the  treat  to-morrow.  How- 
ever, we'll  anticipate  it  by  twenty-four  hours. 
Do  you  know  if  anyone  rang  Mr.  Denham  up, 
or  if  he  used  the  'phone  at  all  ?  ' 

"  No  one  rang  him  up,"  she  replied.  "  But 
I  thought  I  heard  him  talking  to  someone 
once,  just  before  he  went  out." 

"  I  see,"  was  the  reply.  "I'll  ring  up  and 
get  Exchange  to  tell  me  where  the  call  was  to." 
She  followed  him  upstairs,  and  listened  breath- 
lessly to  the  one-sided  conversation.  At  last 
he  turned  to  her. 

"  It's  as  we  thought,"  he  said,  sharply. 
"  He  rang  up  Brandscome's  house,  Colder 's 
Green,  the  place  we  raided  the  other  night, 
and  found  an  innocent  old  woman  sole  occu- 
pant ;  but  we  were  going  again,  of  course." 


304  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  In  any  case,  I  would  have  told  you  now," 
said  Elise;  "and  I'm  coming  with  you," 
she  added,  and  disappeared  into  her  room, 
from  whence,  a  second  later  she  emerged  in 
hat  and  coat. 

"  I've  told  Mrs.  Jenkins  to  sit  up  until  I 
come  back,"  she  said.  A  minute  later  she  was 
seated  beside  Harper  in  the  big  car  which  she 
saw  contained  four  more  constables. 

"What  on  earth  did  you  let  him  go  for?" 
demanded  the  detective,  as  they  tore  through 
the  deserted  streets. 

"  He  said  he  was  going  to  a  night  club," 
she  replied.  "  Of  course,  I  couldn't  stop  him, 
he  deserved  some  fun." 

"  Fun  !  "  he  retorted  in  great  disgust.  "  I 
expect  he's  getting  his  fill  of  it  now.  No, 
no,"  he  added,  hearing  a  stifled  sob  beside 
him.  "  I  don't  mean  that,  of  course.  We'll 
get  there  in  time,  don't  worry.  If  there's 
any  truth  in  that  story  of  his  about  a  torture 
chamber,  then  we've  nothing  to  fear.  Jim 
Sullivan  won't  try  to  get  away  until  he's  given 
him  a  few  hours  of  it,  and  though  it  mayn't 
be  exactly  pleasant  or  what  one  would  choose 
as  a  pastime,  still,  it  won't  kill  him.  Sulli- 
van will  try  and  do  that  just  before  he  hops 
it.  But  we'll  stop  his  little  game." 

They  tore  on  through  the  night  down  empty 
streets,  and  finally  reached  their  destination. 

"  And  to  think  they  took  me  in  like  that," 
grumbled  Harper,  as  they  pulled  up  fifty  yards 
from  the  house  and  he  got  out.  "  Now  you 


MOLLY  MAKES  GOOD  30 

stay  here  and  don't  move,"  he  went  on,  turn- 
ing to  Elise.  "  I'll  leave  the  driver  here  in 
case  anyone  runs  out  this  way  and  tries  to  get 
away  in  my  car.  If  anyone  does,"  he  added 
to  the  man,  "  don't  hesitate  to  shoot.  We 
are  dealing  with  a  gang  that  sticks  at  nothing, 
and  if  one  of  'em  is  shot  instead  of  being  hanged 
it  won't  count  against  you." 

"  Very  good,  sir." 

Harper  and  his  men  went  cautiously,  keeping 
to  the  grass,  but  they  had  hardly  gone  two 
yards  when  a  large  hound  sprang  out  from  the 
bushes  barking  and  snarling.  One  of  the  con- 
stables brought  his  truncheon  down  on  the 
brute's  head,  and  it  dropped. 

"  Dead,  I  expect,"  said  Harper,  "  but  curse 
it  !  They'll  have  heard." 

And  then  a  shot  rang  out  from  somewhere 
inside  the  house. 

"  Run,  men  !  Don't  trouble  about  a  noise. 
I'm  afraid  we're  too  late  to  save  the  boy, 
but  we'll  get  his  murderers."  His  automatic 
smashed  through  a  window  as  he  spoke,  and 
putting  an  arm  in  he  undid  the  catch. 

"  Two  of  you  run  round  to  the  back  of  the 
house,  there'll  be  another  way  out.  Wish  I'd 
brought  more  men." 

The  two  dashed  off  round  the  house  and  the 
other  followed  him  through  the  window.  There 
was  a  faint  noise  from  the  other  end  of  the 
house  which  sounded  like  a  car  starting.  As 
they  ran  down  the  passage,  there  was  a  shout 
followed  by  a  shot.  They  turned  towards  the 


3o6  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

back  door,  which  stood  open,  and,  throwing 
his  light  on  to  it,  Harper  saw  one  of  the  con- 
stables struggling  with  a  man. 

"  Hurry,  sir  !  "  called  out  the  officer.  "  One 
of  'em's  running.  I  think  Sullivan  and  a 
woman  got  clean  off  in  a  car.  Shot  Matthews 
in  the  arm.  Ah,  £ot  you  my  lad  !  "  he  ended, 
and  Harper  heard  the  snap  of  handcuffs  as 
he  passed  him  at  a  run.  Outside  and  away 
in  front  he  heard  footsteps  running.  He  was 
a  fast  sprinter,  and,  flashing  his  lamp,  he 
saw  that  he  was  gaining  on  the  dark  figure 
before  him,  and  that  the  drive  led  out  into  a 
by  lane. 

"  Stop  "  he  called,  "  or  I'll  shoot !  "  but  the 
man  in  front  paid  no  heed.  Twice  more  he 
called,  with  the  same  result,  then  he  raised 
his  weapon  and  fired  low.  The  man  pitched 
forward  and  fell. 

"  That's  all  right,"  said  Harper,  as  he  bent 
over  him.  "  Leg  wound  only,"  and  then  as  a 
constable  ran  up,  "  He'll  still  be  fit  for  the 
hangman.  Help  me  carry  him  in."  They 
picked  the  groaning  man  up  and  carried  him 
at  a  run  to  the  house. 

"  Cursed  sneaking  beast,"  he  muttered  be- 
tween his  groans.  "  He  made  sure  of  his 
get  away  all  right." 

"  What,  Sullivan  ?  "  said  Harper.  "  He  would. 
And  what's  your  name  my  man  ?  I  mean  the 
one  you  patronise  at  present?  " 

"  Appleton,"  was  the  reply. 

"  I've  heard  of  you,"   said   Harper,  dryly. 


MOLLY  MAKES  GOOD  307 

"  Look  after  him,  Cousins,  I'm  going  down  to 
the  cellar." 

He  found  the  lights  turned  up  and  the  trap- 
door open.  Then  he  clambered  down  and 
saw  a  man  in  shirt  and  trousers,  with  his  arms 
stretched  out  against  the  wall,  and  a  pair  of 
staring  eyes  gazing  at  him  out  of  a  chalk-white 
face. 

"  Thank  God,  he's  alive  !  "  he  muttered,  as 
he  hurried  across  to  him.  "  You  seem  to  be 
pretty  tightly  trussed  up,  Mr.  Denham.  How 
long  have  you  been  like  this  ?  ';  He  busied 
himself  with  the  buckles,  and  in  doing  so 
touched  something  on  the  floor  with  his  foot. 
He  looked  down,  and  the  next  instant  dropped 
on  his  knees. 

"  It's  Molly,"  said  Jack,  in  a  dry,  husky 
voice.  "  She  took  the  bullet  that  was  coming 
for  me.  She's — dead,  I  think." 

The  detective  bent  lower.  "  Yes,"  he  said, 
quietly,  and  took  the  limp  body  in  his  arms. 
Then  he  called  up  the  trap-door. 

"  One  of  you  come  down  here."  A  con- 
stable appeared,  and  descended  the  steps. 
"  Carry  her  up,"  he  said,  "  and  lay  her  on  the 
sofa.  Gently,  man,  she's  made  good  and  some 
to  spare.  Mr.  Denham  is  alive  because  she's 
dead."  The  constable  took  the  burden  in 
his  arms  in  silence  and  went  up. 

"  And  now  I'll  see  to  your  comfort,  young 
man,"  and  Harper  proceeded  to  release  him, 
catching  him  in  strong  arms  as  he  toppled 
over. 


308  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  Sit  still  for  a  bit  and  have  some  of  this," 
said  the  detective,  and  held  a  flask  to  his 
lips. 

"  What's  the  time  ?  "  asked  Jack,  when  he 
could  speak. 

"  After  three,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Six  hours  of  it,"  he  said,  "  and  I  thought 
it  was  weeks.  I'm  parched,  Harper." 

'  Well,  get  home  then,  as  soon  as  you  can. 
Mrs.  Allwood's  out  there  in  the  car." 

"  Here  ?  "  he  cried,  amazed. 

"  Just  that.  Where  else  do  you  suppose 
she  would  be  ?  ' 

"  Of  course,"  said  Jack,  in  a  dazed  sort  of 
voice.  "I'm  afraid  I've  caused  a  lot  of  trouble, 
Harper." 

'  There's  no  getting  away  from  that,"  was 
the  dry  retort.  "  But  you've  paid  for  your 
fun  any  way.  Let  me  help  you  on  with  your 
things." 

"  I  feel  as  if  I'd  been  thrashed,"  he  said, 
wincing  as  he  put  on  his  jacket.  "  Poor 
Molly  released  me  from  that  collar,  or  I  shouldn't 
be  alive  now.  It  kept  me  strung  up  with  my 
toes  barely  touching  the  ground.  I  was  bound 
to  have  choked  when  my  strength  gave 
out." 

Harper  swore.     "  Damned  brutes !  "   he  said. 
'  You've  been    through    it    and    no    mistake. 
But  you're  safe  now  for  a  bit." 

'You  got  them?     Sullivan ?     Mike?" 

asked  Jack,  still  in  a  dazed  kind  of  voice. 

"  Mike  and  Appleton  are  bagged,  but  Sullivan 


MOLLY  MAKES  GOOD  309 

and  a  woman  got  away  in  a  car  after  plugging 
one  of  my  men  in  the  arm." 

Jack  looked  at  him  queerly.  "  I'm  glad 
of  that,"  he  said.  "  He's  my  quarry.  Harper, 
one  day  I  shall  get  him.  I  owe  poor  Molly 
that." 

"  That's  enough,"  snapped  Harper.  "He's 
our  job  and  you  can  keep  your  hands  off  in 
future.  He'll  lie  low  somewhere  for  a  bit. 
Get  another  hiding-place,  I  reckon.  Now  come 
on  out  of  this,  I'll  help  you."  They  climbed 
up,  and  in  the  room  above  Jack  glanced  round, 
and  the  next  moment  was  bending  over  some- 
thing lying  covered  on  the  sofa.  He  gently 
raised  the  cloth  that  hid  her  face  ;  she  looked 
happier  and  more  peaceful  than  he  had  ever 
seen  her. 

"  Poor  kid,"  he  muttered,  and  turned  away. 
In  the  passage  outside  they  passed  the  two 
prisoners  under  guard,  and  a  constable  with  his 
arm  bandaged. 

"  Glad  you  escaped,  young  'un,"  said  Mike. 
"  You're  a  good  plucked  'un." 

"  Thank  you,  Mike,"  he  replied,  and  then, 
turning  to  Harper  as  they  got  outside,  "He's 
not  as  bad  as  the  others." 

"  He'll  get  what's  coming  to  him,"  retorted 
the  detective,  dryly. 

They  reached  the  car  where  Elise  was  stand- 
ing waiting  for  him,  one  of  the  constables 
having  told  her  what  had  happened.  She 
did  not  seem  to  notice  Harper  or  the  driver, 
but  just  put  her  arms  about  Jack's  neck. 


310  THE  WRONG  NUMBER 

"  Thank  God  !  "  she  said.  Jack  was  silent ; 
for  once  words  failed  him,  and  in  any  case  they 
were  not  needed. 

" Get  in,  please,"  said  Harper.  "I'll  send  you 
back  in  the  car,  and  it  can  return  and  pick  us 
up.  I'll  get  another  from  the  station  here, 
or  use  yours.  Keep  him  quiet,  Mrs.  Allwood," 
he  went  on,  putting  his  head  in  at  the  window. 
"  He's  had  a  bit  of  a  shock  and  has  been 
putting  in  a  few  hours  best  described  as  hell." 
Then  his  hand  went  up  in  salute.  "  Good 
luck,  Mrs.  Allwood,  you've  been  just  splendid." 
The  car  drove  off. 

Once  only,  during  the  long  drive,  did  Elise 
break  the  silence. 

"  Poor  Molly,"  she  said  unsteadily,  "  she 
made  good  at  last."  Then,  after  a  pause, 
"  Jack,  it's  been  rather  a  strain  and  I'm  going 
to  cry." 

'  Yes,  my  darling,"  said  Jack,  and  drew  her 
head  on  to  his  shoulder.  After  another  silence, 
rather  longer  than  the  first,  he  said,  as  though 
his  words  were  part  of  some  long  unspoken 
conversation,  '  Yes,  one  day  I'll  have  the 
pleasure  of  killing  Jim  Sullivan."  And  then, 
unconsciously  repeating  his  brother's  very 
words  :  '  While  he's  alive  the  world  isn't  a 
fit  place  to  live  in." 

'  You're  better,  dear?  "  murmured  Elise,  as 
they  drew  up  at  their  destination  and  the 
driver  rang  the  bell. 

"  No,  I'm  very  ill,"  he  replied.  "  Almost 
at  death's  door  after  all  I've  been  through. 


MOLLY  MAKES  GOOD  311 

But  I've  got  a  notion  that  one  more  kiss  like 
the  last — no,  he's  not  looking — would  make  me 
quite  well  almost  at  once." 

Elise  All  wood,  thereupon  effected  a  miracu- 
lous cure. 


THE   END 


UC SOUTHSWreOONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


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